Exception to the Rule Criss Cross***

Doncaster-born pianist John Escreet relocated to New York in 2006 and, in a city that eats musicians for breakfast, rapidly established himself as one of the leading pianists of the younger "downtown" generation. His side-man credits include the much-respected composer and saxophonist David Binney and the alto player returns the favour on this, Escreet's fourth release under his own name and his second of the year. Exception to the Ruleis a mostly acoustic affair, displaying the pianist's admiration for free players like Paul Bley and Andrew Hill, but with a strong sense of the pulse that recalls the young Englishman's mentor, pianist Jason Moran. Drummer Nasheet Waits, a Moran regular, and Norwegian bassist Eivind Opik know exactly when to push and pull, and Binney is as sweetly sour and inventive as ever. The result is a persuasive statement from a 26-year-old pianist whose best, perhaps, still lies ahead. See johnescreet.com