Roy Assaf

For his debut album on Jazz Legacy Productions, the Israeli-born, New York-based pianist takes on the history of the music, tackling ten songs associated with ten important piano personalities, and adding two of his own for good measure. The usual suspects, like Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea, are given acknowledgement, but Assaf avoids the usual material associated with these legends, "Blue Monk," "Watermelon Man" and "Armando's Rhumba" are nowhere to be found. Instead, Assaf delivers "Brake's Sake," minus Monk's percussive touch, "Textures," which comes off as atmospheric and airy with bass clarinet, guitar and wind chimes rounding out the sound, and "Eternal Child," which captures Corea's essence and Spanish heart.