The last time I reviewed Kimbrough in review pages (Jazzwise 237) was when he fronted a six-CD performance of Thelonious Monk’s entire repertoire, played by his 2018 quartet. Since his untimely death in late 2020 aged 64, he’s been recognised as not only an important element in the NYC scene (and in the Maria Schneider band) but a great stylist. Amply demonstrated in the present reissue of two re-mastered trio albums, originally released as Lullabluebye and Play, is his absolute command of the piano and an approach that hardly sounds like anyone else. While the press release mentions his fondness for Monk, Herbie Nichols, Bill Evans, Paul Bley and Andrew Hill, such influences are well and truly absorbed. As well as the melodic and harmonic invention, there’s often a tantalising ambivalence between in-tempo and out-of-tempo, which is meat and drink for the two rhythm sections. The impact of Kimbrough’s compositional material – there’s also one theme by Allison, two by Motian plus the Bond theme ‘You Only Live Twice’(!) – would be considerable viewed in isolation, but it’s well and truly integrated into the collective performance. The accompanying booklet has statements by Schneider and producer Matt Balisaris, in addition to Kimbrough’s two original album notes.