(Cool, Hard Bop) John Coates, Jr. - Piano... Forte!! - 1995, MP3, 320 kbps

A fine Bill Evans-influenced pianist who chose to live in Pennsylvania rather than relocating to New York, John Coates Jr. recorded prolifically for the Omnisound label in the 1970s, but was not heard from much after that period until the release of this CD. Coates, who survived some bad health, is featured on this disc still in prime form and playing in his unchanged style. The eight piano solos (four of the songs are his originals) are thoughtful, sometimes a little introspective, and explorative within the hard bop tradition. Coates really digs into the songs (particularly the ballads), building his solos while usually keeping the melodies in mind. This is an excellent effort and well-worth searching for by fans of the acoustic piano.