Eye Witness

This trio CD (with bassist Dave Green and drummer Allan Ganley) strikes a balance between well played standards and upbeat catchy originals. "Angel Eyes" is almost a mandatory ballad for a pianist to play at some time - Newton's very soft approach would hush the nosiest audience. A lengthy workout of Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes" and a brief take on the nearly forgotten showtune "Stars in My Eyes" merit praise. Among Newton's works, the strutting opener "Ol' Blue Eyes" and the turbocharged title track stand out.