The victim of corporate disregard for an artist’s work, pianist David Kikoski has recorded many records as a leader over the years, although all but his most recent string of releases for Criss Cross are currently unavailable. This fact, along with his extensive work as a sideman, meant that until 1998’s Inner Trust, few were aware of Kiksoki’s talents as a leader. Reaching a pinnacle on his previous set, Surf’s Up, Kikoski has honed a particularly incisive musical relationship with drummer Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts which is no less palpable on Combinations. This time out, we also get to hear Seamus Blake return to the fold on two of the nine pieces, all written by Kikoski.

The premise for Combinations is simply stated by the album title, Kikoski engaging in different sized ensemble combinations taken from the pool of musicians on hand. There are two duo tracks with only the pianist and bassist Boris Kozlov as the leads. Aside from a brief bass interlude and the pair of quartet tracks with Blake, the remaining cuts feature the trio--and it’s a potent one, capable of great flights of fancy be it on the blues or more advanced forms. While it might be said that we have somewhat of a mixed bag here taken as a whole, the majority of the individual parts are distinctive enough to merit attention.

~ Chris Hovan

Track Listing: Improvisations, Cecilia, Duo Part 1, Bass Interlude, Tamami, Harmonizing Instincts, Blues For Us, Duo Part 2, Trio Improvisation