Marian McPartland With Strings - "Silent Pool" [Concord Jazz CD '97] Piano trio with full string section arranged and conducted by Alan Broadbent, performing all McPartland originals from throughout her long history. Beautifully written, played and recorded (with just a couple minor fall-offs in each of those areas, relatively speaking, from the notably high standard), this has been in near-continuous play since I picked it up a few days ago. Projects of this type, quality and expense aren't attempted too often anymore in the present day, fewer still this successfully IMO. This luscious and timeless-sounding treat deftly straddles the spaces between conptemplative "lounge" piano jazz (in the vintage Bill Evans or Ahmad Jamal sense), standards-inspired melodiousness, and classical romanticism -- not to mention between small-group, ensemble, and concerto -- while scrupulously avoiding any poppy, show-tuney, exotic, new-agey, or virtuosic missteps or affectations. Highly recommended!
