Being a licensed psychiatrist who once wrote scores for Sesame Street, jazz pianist Denny Zeitlin knows a thing or two about the human condition and one’s ability to express it. His latest release Labyrinth, a live solo performance of in front of a small group of people, drives many things home that Zeitlin has strived to capture over his long and esteemed career. For one thing, he’s not shy on piano manipulation (reaching in and plucking the strings, putting a damper on some strings while letting others resonate). His choice of covers, which appear reverent on the surface, leave a lot of room for beauty and/or mischief. With Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints”, it’s the former – with Richard Rodgers’ “People Will Say We’re in Love”, it’s the latter. Broad and expansive just like a real labyrinth, this new release proves that you can grow old while still staying in touch with the modern.