Dave McKenna formed his Bop-tinged Classic Swing piano style back in the '50s playing with such lyrical modernists as Stan Getz, Woody Herman, and Zoot Sims (whom he continued to collaborate with over the years). But his solo career didn't really start cooking until he joined the Concord label in 1979. Like so many artists on their roster, McKenna is a masterful musician who stays firmly in the acoustic mainstream while remaining a fresh and exciting pianist. Like Oscar Peterson and Cedar Walton, McKenna is a expert soloist who can step back as a sensitive accompanist with ease.