Visceral

'Visceral' is an album recorded live in New York City in January, 2007 with Sean Smith on bass, and Russ Meissner on drums. It demonstrates Billy Lester's totally unique approach to jazz improvisation. Billy Lester is a pianist who goes where other pianists don't - deep into songs' essential structures, which he then probes and opens for what new they have to offer. To my ears he comes out of Lennie Tristano with enormous regard for Tristano's follower Sal Mosca, and approaches some of the same territory as Thelonious Monk, though from his own direction and to his own unique destinations. Wit, warmth, curiosity and devotion to the pursuit of unlikely beauty drive Lester's improvisations on classic American themes, which he ends up almost totally recomposing. He's a musician to discover and savor for sounding like nobody else. Howard Mandel Down Beat, senior contributor National Public Radio arts reporter.