Presage

On this early effort, pianist David Kikoski is joined by bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Al Foster. While Kikoski’s use of synthesizers on several cuts dates the material to some degree, there’s still some great playing and writing to be heard. There are also historical details worth mentioning: “Dirty Dogs” would later appear on Billy Hart’s 1993 album Amethyst, and “Hope,” the opening track, would later appear on Al Foster’s 1997 album Brandyn (both of these later discs feature Kikoski himself). In addition to these and three other solid originals, there are also swinging versions of two Cole Porter tunes, “In the Still of the Night” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and a closing solo piano meditation on “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.” Even though this is far from Kikoski’s most mature work, his harmonic wizardry and stunning chops are very much in evidence.