Definitely one of the best piano trio albums around this year (there’s a list of a few more here) tonight as part of a Quincy Jones Presents double bill, also featuring the remarkable Jacob Collier, Justin Kauflin takes to the stage of Ronnie Scott’s in what for many will be the first glimpse of this formidable talent.   

The pianist’s album Dedication, which opened deliciously and bang up to date with Robert Glasper-line tones on ‘Elusive,’ was a wake up and smell the coffee kind of alert from this Silver Spring, Maryland-born player.

Revelling in writing highly involving tunes whether anthemic on ‘B Dub’ or tuggingly heartfelt on ‘No Matter’, or even, in the ultimate test of any album in this idiom, the ability to be so natural on ‘For Clark’ dedicated to mentor Clark Terry. Kauflin’s trio on the album – with Christopher Smith on bass, and Billy Williams on drums – at heart is a cultured old-fashioned unit enhanced by guitarist Matt Stevens and also by nylon string guitarist Etan Haziza who guests on the homespun ‘Thank You Lord’ which boasts a gem of a bass solo feature by bassist Smith. I’d just as much prefer hearing the trio all the way through although the track order sequencing means the switch-abouts to go bigger or more intimate don’t disrupt. ‘Tempest’ is the track I’ll be returning to often, a beautifully rhapsodic trio piece along with the hymnal solo piano track ‘Mother’s Song,’ the cadences crisp and authoritative.

Anyway enough chat: hear Kauflin for yourself if you’re around. There’s a link to the club site here