Long an inside secret in his adopted Los Angeles, composer and pianist Geoff Stradling's debut on Origin explores a collection of diverse jazz styles, all held together by a strong personal identity all his own. Nine original compositions run the gamut from jazz waltzes to scorching Latin funk. The lone standard in the collection "Stella By Starlight" is treated to an Afro-Cuban groove reminiscent of New York in the '70's and features the rhythm section of Ramon Banda, Rene Camacho & Michael Spiro. Rhythmic and harmonic ideas are abundant, but the real difference here is melody. A side effect of spending almost a decade living in Europe, the melodic component of Geoff's compositions and playing is fresh and potent, keeping a perfect balance between intellect and emotion.