In some musicians, eclecticism can seem dilettantish but with Cologne pianist and composer Florian Ross, it's for real. Though his main instrument is the keyboard, the 42-year-old's real medium is the group itself, and whether arranging for large ensembles or, as here, writing for trio, there's always a delight in the craft of putting music together that clearly pulls his ear in many directions. The tracks on Pigs & Fairies veer from acoustic pianism to fusion funk to synthesizer avant-pop, but always with a sense of purpose and an ear for a strong melody. Bassist Dietmar Fuhr and drummer Fabien Arrends adapt admirably to every twist and turn, and much-admired saxophonist Paul Heller adds another layer on two tracks. toypianorecords.de