For those not in the know, Jazz pianist Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians.

As a Steinway Artist, Porter draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano.

Indeed, Porter has performed with many jazz greats, including Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Charles McPherson. With the Charles McPherson Quartet, he has traveled throughout the US and in Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and China.

Furthermore, the Randy Porter Trio was also nominated for the 60th Grammy Awards for the album, Porter Plays Porter with Nancy King.

His brand new album, Porter Plays Frishberg - Unsung, is a tribute album to songs by Dave Frishberg, and is to be released this very month via HeavyWood Records.

Featuring Randy Porter on piano, John Wiitala on bass, and Todd Strait on drums, Porter also arranged, performed, engineered, mixed, and mastered this project at HeavyWood Studios.

1. 'Snowbound'
2. 'Listen Here'
3. 'I’m Hip'
4. 'Heart’s Desire'
5. 'I Want to Be a Sideman'
6. 'You are There'
7. 'Dear Departed Past'
8. 'Wheelers and Dealers'
9. 'Little Did I Dream'
10. 'Peel Me a Grape'
11. 'Do You Miss New York?'
12. 'Zanzibar'

With all the 12 songs songs written by Dave Frishberg, except for: 'I’m Hip' (by Bob Derough and Frishberg), 'Heart’s Desire' (by Alan Broadbent and Frishberg), 'You Are There' and 'Little Did I Dream' (by Johnny Mandel and Frishberg), combined with some heartfelt, and at times intricately orchestrated arrangements by Porter, Porter Plays Frishberg - Unsung already features prominently in my own personal Top 10 albums of the year.

Opening on the light and breezy 'Snowbound' that then blends seamlessly into the fine dining accompaniment 'Listen Here,' the mid-tempo, layered funk of 'I’m Hip,' and then both the lush 'Heart’s Desire' and the perky 'I Want to Be a Sideman.'

The quietly poetic 'You are There' is then backed by the more precise sounds of 'Dear Departed Past' with the down low vibe of 'Wheelers and Dealers' nicely following along.

The highly-spirited 'Little Did I Dream' is then backed by the near-eight minute jam of 'Peel Me a Grape,' with the album coming to a close on the ornate 'Do You Miss New York?' and then the luxuriant 'Zanzibar.'

“A growing number of listeners and musicians have come to appreciate Dave Frishberg as a composer, lyricist and pianist, yet his name is still relatively little known to the larger public," Porter explains.

"Most recordings of Frishberg’s music or lyrics understandably feature vocalists. My hope is that Dave’s music also has the prominence to reach you Unsung."

"Perhaps by now, even with a purely instrumental interpretation, we can sense his message through the melody, the humor through the harmony, and the rhyming through the rhythm; not unlike his predecessors achieved through the other timeless jazz standards of the Great American Songbook. Hope you enjoy.”

Official Purchase Link