Illusion Suite

Stanley Cowell’s Illusion Suite is another ECM one-off that demands retrospective attention. This 1973 joint with bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Jimmy Hopps finds the pianist and bandleader in a most comfortable (and comforting) mode. The timid strains of “Maimoun” betray none of the driving forces that follow it, tracing a pathway through arid vistas (“Ibn Mukhtarr Mustapha”), bop-infused detours (“Cal Massey”), and smooth moves (“Miss Viki”) without missing a beat. Nostalgic, thought-provoking, and tender, this is fantastic music from a gifted composer and performer that is blessedly available thanks to a digital reissue.