NEW RELEASES : An Impressive ‘Portrait’ of Billy Childs

BILLY CHILDS

“Portrait of a Player”

Windham Hill Jazz

* * * 1/2

There’s no greater pleasure than hearing a talented young artist as his music grows and evolves. Billy Childs has been the fresh prince of jazz piano in Los Angeles for a few years now, and this outing--in which he works exposed in a trio context, with bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Billy Kilson--provides a superb opportunity to experience some of his finest recorded playing.

Performing mostly pop standards or jazz classics, Childs seems to have no stylistic restrictions. On the simmering up-tempos of “It’s You or No One,” John Coltrane’s “Satellite” and Cedar Walton’s “Bolivia,” his lines spin across the upper partials of the chords with dance-like exuberance. On the ballads--especially “The End of Innocence” and his solo readings of “Never Let Me Go” and “Easy Living”--Childs’ harmonies are sometimes breathtaking.

Two other tracks, Childs’ original “Flanagan” and Bill Evans’ “34 Skidoo,” reveal a capacity for understanding and creatively interpreting the styles of other pianists (Tommy Flanagan and Evans, respectively).

If there is a problem in this otherwise impressive album, it is the less-than-sterling support furnished by Kilson, who never quite reaches the level of intensity laid down by Childs and Dumas.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).