"As a collaborative trio, the group was burning all evening, but never with more fire and invention than on Zeitlin's "'Slickrock,' the title tune of his new recording (MaxJazz). Inspired by the incredible feats of mountain bikers he encountered in Utah's canyonlands, Zeitlin has created a sonic palette of similarly acrobatic maneuvers. Striking and plucking the strings with mallets and fingers, he turned the piano into an effective percussion section, creating an eerie, celestial introduction to an abstract symphonic poem. He was aided and abetted by popping arco attacks from Williams, and Wilson's menagerie of simultaneously clamoring chains, fluttering wood flute, and foot-propelled shells." - Andrea Canter 

From December 14th through the 19th Jazz Bekery in Los Angeles hosts one the bay area's best-kept secrets, inimitable pianist Denny Zeitlin who handles everything from standards to Coltrane with startling thoughtfulness, blazing technique and, above all, impeccable taste. His newest disc, the just-released Slickrock (MaxJazz, 2004), is an absolute tour-de-force, due in no small part to his two heavyweight collaborators: rock-solid bassist Buster Williams, who's backed just about every other post-war jazz great you can name, and the astonishing young drummer Matt Wilson, both of whom accompany Zeitlin here this week.

Click here for an introduction to Denny Zeitlin,  click here for an introduction to Buster Williams  and click here for a review of a performance by this trio earlier this year.