Tom Kohl - Piano Marc Johnson - Bass * Dick Weller - Drums * Stephen Roane - Bass ** Gerry Fitzgerald ** * Recorded December 1990 ** Recorded April 1993 “Voice of Choice” marks his debut recording as a leader and he has obviously put considerable thought and effort toward our remembering his music and playing, if not his name, in the future. He and both of his rhythm sections here work together seamlessly. That’s no small compliment given that all but two of the compositions are Kohl originals. Further , he skillfully integrates the respectively different sound of whichever bass player he is working with, to enhance the arrangements. The recording has great clarity. But what Kohl has done best is to make his music the focal point of your listening consciousness. He takes a Bill Evans approach in that he likes to explore harmonic variations supported by a flowing melody. Kohl is not simply another Evans "stylist”. Only one of the seven originals even contains discernible traces of that. On the tunes with Johnson, he has a way of directing you to climb aboard the rhythmic patterns of the piece while he builds up its intensity. By contrast, with Roane’s broader , richer tones behind him, Kohl likes to stretch out and roam. You may have noticed that some of his titles have Nature themes to them - “Waiting For The Sun”, “ Language Of The Trees, and so forth. It’s the height of autumn as I am writing this review and the hills outside my window are resplendent with colors. So is the music on this fine debut outing. Paul B. Matthews - CADENCE