Larry Willis - Just in Time (VINYL) | Mint (M) Mint (M)

    Just in Time
    Artist: Larry Willis Format: LP Release Date: 3/20/2026 

    Label: Steeplechase
    Vendor: Naxos of America, INC
    Distributor: AMPED
    UPC: 716043125111
    Genre: Jazz
    Release Date: 3/20/2026
    Product ID: SPS1251.1

    Weight: .6 lb

LP 
Description

Just in Time is a long-overdue spotlight on one of jazz's most quietly influential pianists. Recorded in 1989 with Bob Cranshaw on bass and Kenny Washington on drums, this trio session captures Willis's lyrical touch, harmonic depth, and rhythmic sophistication in full bloom.
Willis's career began with a voice solo in Aaron Copland's The Second Hurricane under Leonard Bernstein, but jazz soon claimed him. By 19, he was playing with Jackie McLean and Hugh Masekela, and later with Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. His style-rooted in Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, and Herbie Hancock-melds cerebral modernism with soulful hard bop. The album features a mix of standards and originals, including the swinging title track, the introspective "Soul Search," and the Monk-inspired "T's Bag Blues." His Latin-tinged "Te Quiero Mi Hermano" and homage to Herbie Hancock on "One Finger Snap" reveal a pianist deeply attuned to rhythm and tradition. Critic Russ Musto writes, "Considering the pianist's continuous growth in forty years of playing, I'd say it's timing is prime. I'll take it now. And look to the future for more." Willis himself praises Cranshaw's ballad work and calls Washington "perhaps the finest young drummer to come along in a long time." G1251 is not just timely-it's timeless. A must-have for collectors and a revelation for new listeners. ".Larry Willis plays piano with style, soul and a constant stream of heart." (Jerome Wilson, Cadence)

    Credits

    Artist(s)
    Bob CranshawKenny WashingtonLarry Willis

• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Genre: JAZZ
• Format Type: LP
• Handling Note: ***
• Released: 03/20/2026