Shamie Royston - Portraits (2012)

Pianist Shamie Royston has been busy playing in the bands of Tia Fuller, John Patitucci, Christian McBride, Terri Lyne Carrington, and others over the last several years. Now she steps out as a leader of her own trio with her debut album, Portraits, which features powerhouse drummer Rudy Royston (her husband) and bassist Ivan Taylor. (Singer Camille Thurman stops by for “In a Quiet Place.”) It’s an album so named because it’s intended to give listeners insight into who this talented pianist is. We get a pretty well-rounded picture via originals like the uplifting “Ascension,” the tangled “Run,” the hard-hitting bebop of “The Beast Within,” and the drummer-driven “Inner Strength.” Equally telling is the original spiritual “Healing Hymn,” a solo piano piece filled with the kind of elegance that comes from spending time in church. There are a few covers as well, with her version of Horace Silver’s “Summer in Central Park” standing out. Recommended for those seeking a thoughtful and modern take on straight-ahead jazz.