Jazz 'Round Midnight: Piano

Another fine sampler from Verve, Jazz ‘Round Midnight: Piano offers up a after-hours mix featuring some of the music's top ivory tinklers. Starting off with Lester Young's classic reading of "Mean to Me" from 1945 (prominently featuring Nat Cole showing of his early genius at the keys), the 15 tracks include both solo and combo sides by the famous (Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans) and the often overlooked (Hampton Hawes, Marian McPartland, George Wallington, Red Garland). Focused on modern jazz's vintage years of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the disc is not only notable for evergreen sides by Peterson and the like, but also for the stunning work by relatively left-field figures like Paul Bley and Junior Mance.