Michael B, short for Michael Boggioni (a last name which he surely tired of everyone misspelling and mispronouncing), evidently makes his debut recording as a leader with this disc, though it is not clear exactly when it was recorded while he was living on the West Coast, with bassist Luther Hughes and drummer Jake Hanna accompanying him on most tracks. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force Band who played with a number of accomplished players in California, the pianist is initially infused with the gospel-tinged style of Gene Harris and Ray Bryant, especially the former in his driving interpretation of Harris' blues "Makin' Bread Again." The joyous, rollicking solo treatment of Randy Newman's "I Love to See You Smile" has the flavor of Roger Kellaway (a fine, underrated pianist who's been around for decades). The richly textured. dreamy setting of Henry Mancini's "Two for the Road" is a lyrical masterpiece, while the playful take of Duke Ellington's "Just Squeeze Me" has some cute exchanges with Hughes. "Body and Soul" is always an acid test for players due to the numerous recorded versions available, though the pianist's thoughtful, dramatic arrangement manages to find something fresh to say. Boggioni contributed the soulful "Dem's Da Breaks," a piece that must have delighted Hughes, given his long association with the late Gene Harris. This is an auspicious debut for a pianist who's obviously been out paying dues for a long time.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo