Gene Bertoncini - With Bill Charlap and Sean Smith (1999)

The Floating Jazz Festival, organized by Chiaroscuro owner Hank O'Neal, has produced many outstanding live sessions, this trio date takes its place among the very best. Not satisfied with just tackling familiar standards, guitarist Gene Bertoncini's group opens with bassist Sean Smith's captivating ballad "Japanese Maple." The leader's classically flavored arrangement of "My Funny Valentine" is refreshing. Several tracks are devoted to long but well played medleys. Pianist Bill Charlap rounds out this outstanding trio, whose playing throughout seems to have mesmerized the audience into devoted silence, less they miss a moment of music. ~ Ken Dryden

Personnel: Bill Charlap (piano), Gene Bertoncini (guitar), Sean Smith (bass).