Pianist and composer Oscar Rossignoli has been a dramatic presence in New Orleans since his arrival in the city in 2014. He’s recorded with his talented peers in the Extended Trio and saxophonist Brad Walker, as well as performing regularly with vocalist John Boutté. Recently his impressive piano was teamed with such dynamic drummers as Johnny Vidacovich and Simon Lott. Obviously, the gifted pianist has been keeping excellent musical company.

On Inertia the Honduran native steps out on his own to perform as a solo artist on a lovely album recorded in its entirety at Esplanade Studios on October 22, 2020. Rossignoli’s brief liner notes are helpful in understanding his approach to the project and the origin of the 11 selections. Some, he explains, were “spontaneous improvisations.” Other songs were ones he had written “over the years,” plus there are compositions that were influenced by his study of classical music while also “following the jazz tradition.” There’s only one non-original cut, the lively “Recuerdos de mi Infancia,” a song Rossignoli recalls from his childhood that rhythmically celebrates his homeland.

The beauty and elegance of the album’s opening number, “Pendulum,” manifest the qualities that perhaps are most associated with Rossignoli, yet power and snatches of melody are found in this improvised work. The composed “Endless Fall” is a love song that embraces the passion and wistfulness of the emotion made complete with the pianist’s riveting two-handed ability that he demonstrates throughout the album.

Inertia is somehow reminiscent of the wind when, without warming, it changes from calm to blustery. It explodes into gale force on the fiery, brilliant closing cut, “Perpetual Motion.” It prompts an excited “Bravo!” for the mastery of Oscar Rossignoli.