David Virelles

David Virelles is not only a pianist with dauntingly developed chops, he’s a composer of compelling but thoughtful music. The tracks on Motion display a range of expressiveness that would do far more established musicians proud. "Lo Más Sublime,” for instance, has an compelling forward motion without the usual oh-so-serious ostinatos that his contemporaries seem to feel obliged to use for the same effect. Couple his challenging chord structures with guest tenor saxist Mark Turner’s lyrical, muscular solos and you’ve got but one example of why this CD rewards repeated listening. Then there’s the rest of the band: Luis Orbegoso supplies insistent percussion; Ethan Ardelli drives the tunes with sophisticated drumming; Luis Deniz wails away with Steve Coleman-inspired alto lines; and the ever-solid Devon Henderson underpins the whole enterprise with supple, enlivening bass lines. What a band! Dreamlike tunes like "Mercedes” offer a change of pace, allowing the soloists to sing like wordless vocalists. Motion is a recording worth seeking out and drinking in like fine wine.