If the name Kris Tokarski is not yet familiar, that’s because the pianist moved here just two years ago to pursue his master’s degree at the University of New Orleans.

His specialty in stride piano explains the absence of a bass on Drop Me Off in Harlem, an album of material primarily from legendary composers such as Irving Berlin and James P. Johnson.

Tokarski’s piano provides a strong base for clarinetist Evan Christopher who, as always, delivers a beautifully toned and emotional performance as the duo opens with Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle’s “Love Will Find a Way.”

With the two weaving together so smoothly, it was almost regrettable not to leave it as a duet instead, with apologies to drummer Benji Bohannon, of adding drums.

Christopher, who’s heard on the first three tracks of the album, is a hard act to follow. Clarinetist James Evans, who fairly recently moved from Britain to New Orleans, is way up to the task as heard on the title track and Sammy Cahn’s “Please Be Kind,” on which Tokarski embellishes his style with some surprising flurries.

Slower-paced songs like this one suit the ensemble better than some of the overly fast tempos on tunes such as “If Dreams Came True.” Later, the tone changes with the arrival of saxophonist James Partridge. Tokarski, whose strong left hand provides all the bass required, finally takes it on his own for a fine solo rendition of the standard “What’s New.”