Alex Clough is a pianist, educator and composer who lives in Jersey City, N.J. When he’s not playing jazz keyboards, he’s accompanying New York’s Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Mark Morris Dance Group or playing other gigs. This terrific album is rock solid and sensitive all the way through. It features Clough (p, el.p), David Smith (tp, flgh), Steve Kortyka (ts), John Tate (b) and Jay Sawyer (d). All of the songs are Clough originals, and the hard-bop playing is intense yet delicate. A remarkable combination. Clough’s piano is lyrical, seasoned and commanding on improvisation. If I played this album for you and you didn’t know who it was, you’d think the recording was a Blue Note release from the ealry 1960s. You’ll find this one at Spotify.