Enrique Villegas - Enrique Villegas Trio: Complete New York Sessions 1955-1957 (2016)

This reissue featuring pianist Enrique Villegas contains two albums originally released on the Columbia label "Introducing Villegas" from 1955 and "Very, Very Villegas" from 1957. Both albums are studio trio recordings made in New York City with bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Cozy Cole. Originally from Argentina with a background in both classical and jazz, Villegas came to the States in the hopes of making a name for himself playing the latter. Echoes of his classical roots can be found in his playing throughout these sessions, though they are most notably heard in his jazzy rendition of Chopin's most famous Prelude. His style reminds me of Andre Previn, though I suppose comparisons could also be made with Friedrich Gulda.