Jonathan Batiste has arrived. On his first album, Times in New Orleans, the 19-year-old New Orleans native tackled a breathtaking range of styles but never quite found his own sound. On Live in New York, the he plays with a voice that’s both deeply rooted in the jazz tradition and unique among contemporary players. He has absorbed the angularity of Thelonious Monk. Monk, however, played on the edge of disaster, like a graceful dancer after too many cocktails. Batiste has a lighter touch, and on songs like “Red Beans,” a tribute to his hometown, he throws out off-kilter runs with the skill of a juggler. Batiste’s playing is contemporary yet oddly old-fashioned. On “She Put the Old Man Down,” he reaches to jazz’s early years but gets there without forgetting the second half of the 20th Century. Batiste never sounds retro because he embraces the entire, long history of jazz.

The pianist’s chops are a match for anyone. Batiste, though, doesn’t showboat. He moves across the keyboard so easily that we forget how fast his fingers are working. For a young man with such talent, Batiste keeps his ego in check. Batiste’s regular working trio, with bassist Phil Kuehn and drummer Joe Saylor, anticipate each other’s moves. They explore the music rather than use it as a prop for a solo. Batiste will soon be recognized as one of jazz’s top talents. If the trio stays together, they could join the ranks of legendary jazz combos. [Note: Track selection had not been finalized by press time.]