Neil Cowley Trio

For this 2012 engagement, British pianist (and accompanist to Grammy-winning superstar Adele) Neil Cowley plays with six musicians—making the trio billing a little misleading, although the lineup does revolve around Cowley, drummer Evan Jenkins, and stand-up bass player Rex Horan, who were on tour in support of The Face of Mount Molehill. Playing the Montreux Jazz Festival represented the culmination of a five-year dream for Cowley, who begins with "Lament," a spare, Keith Jarrett-like solo that segues into "Rooster Was a Witness," at which point Jenkins and Horan come in, followed by the Mount Molehill Strings. After the first few numbers, the string players depart, with the exception of violinist Julian Ferraretto, leaving the trio for the center of the 15-song set, although the ensemble returns for the conclusion. If Cowley's music isn't pop, classical, or experimental, he successfully blends these genres into a modern jazz mix that is too dynamic to qualify as new age or ambient, but the ballads come close. More upbeat selections include Molehill's jaunty title track, the driving "Kenny Two Steps," and the swinging "Hug the Greyhound," which takes its inspiration from a long-limbed friend. "We tend to write songs about people we know," Cowley explains (another track, “Box Lily,” references his 4-year-old daughter). Some pianists, regardless of the sound they produce, tend to seem balled-up with tension when playing, but Cowley gives off a decidedly more joyful vibe. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)