Denny Zeitlin is one of the great individual stylists of the piano. He was born in Chicago on April 10,1938 and studied with the great theorist/innovator, George Russell. Denny lists his influences as Russell, Billy Taylor and Bill Evans but you'll find that Zeitlin has absorbed these influences so well that what comes out is pure Zeitlin. This was his first recording under his own name and it was done in 1964 for Columbia and re-issued on this fine Mosaic set from www.mosaicrecords.com Denny picked two fine sidemen in the persons of virtuoso bassist, Cecil McBee and the late drummer,Freddie Waites. Both these gentlemen were from Detroit and worked together in many different bands and were the perfect sidemen. This album, called "Cathexis" was the first in a series of innovative trio recordings. Denny moved to the Bay area soon after this recording to play and also to begin his other career as a psychiatrist. He has continued in both professions and is still practicing and playing at age 71. This album was an auspicious beginning.