Three of Four

Harold Danko's CD title has two meanings: he often plays with a quartet including tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, who is not present on this session; also, the pieces are played in either 3/4 or 6/8 time. With bassist Scott Colley and drummer Jeff Hirschfield, the pianist explores a wide range of compositions, including Fats Waller's light-hearted "Jitterbug Waltz," Abdullah Ibrahim's bluesy African-tinged "Tintiyana," and a superb arrangement of Randy Weston's "Little Niles" that incorporates an off-center approach to its famous theme. Bill Evans is well represented, with an upbeat bossa nova treatment of "Turn Out the Stars" and a lush "Blue in Green" (initially credited to Miles Davis but claimed by Evans as his own). Danko worked with Gerry Mulligan (though little of his work with the baritone saxophonist has appeared commercially) and "Walk on the Water" was his personal favorite; it is a shame Mulligan didn't live to hear this trio performance, a harmonically rich rendition.Danko's settings of works by Andrew Hill, Kenny Wheeler, Jimmy Rowles, Thelonious Monk, and Sonny Rollins also take fresh paths.