Known for his work with American prime movers Vijay Iyer and Steve Lehman as well as his own bands, drummer Tyshawn Sorey has in the past decade established himself as a boldly original player and composer. He certainly pushed the envelope on conceptual works such as 2009's Koan, which was full of spacious soundscapes and beguiling harmony. Mesmerism, a set of covers, stands as an important statement insofar as it shows Sorey's affinity to the straightahead as well as avant-garde schools of thought. Which means stealthy movement from Horace Silver and Paul Motian to Duke Ellington via Muhal Richard Abrams. Sorey makes several points in the process. His ability to balance sturdy rhythmic drive and sensitive understatement is flawless; his swing forceful yet not bombastic; his handling of the yearning romanticism of ‘Autumn Leaves’, a standard that can turn to slush if not treated with a degree of imagination, underlines his listening as well as playing skills.

Pianist Aaron Diehl and double bassist Matt Brewer are very suitable partners in any case, and the artful blend of blues and classical leanings of the former and tonal richness of the latter are particularly effective on the downtempo numbers when Sorey's use of brushes or hands draws a kind of whisper and purr from the snare drum, making it conspicuously sensual. This is an emotionally charged and musically articulate CD that sees Sorey defy expectation and straddle many traditions rather any single one.

Logically, the set was produced by the legendary drummer-educator Michael Carvin.