The pianist and composer Peter Zak, on this his tenth album for SteepleChase, reveals his thoughts on jazz compositions by writing his own liner notes, which makes an interesting bonus to the strong music embodied here.

His trio is made up of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Willie Jones III and they perform three compositions by Zac, as well as songs by the jazz pianists Chick Corea, Horace Silver, Horace Silver, Hampton Hawes, Thelonious Monk and Elmo Hope, as well as the classical composer Alexander Scriabin.

Personnel: Peter Zak (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Willie Jones III (drums)

"Zak's originals have the strengths to become jazz standards themselves." - Ken Dryden, The NYC Jazz Record (on 'The Disciple')

"Zak and his superb trio went into the studio to swing on Down East, and swing they did...Zak's beautiful way with a melody comes to the forefront." - Dan McClenaghan , All About Jazz on 'Down East')

"To "get" Zak, you have to pay close attention. The surfaces of his music seem conventional until you notice how imaginatively his improvisations are developed, and how intelligently they tie. Zak invariably comes upon lovely notes you never anticipated." - Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes (on 'Seed of Sin')