Pianist Michael Torregano has been performing professionally for over 20 years. He’s appeared onstage with such luminaries as George Benson, Allen Toussaint, Johnny Adams and Nicholas Payton.

So why has it taken him so long to record his first solo album?

Who knows, but to have delayed any longer would have deprived the world of some truly outstanding music. Hailing from Marrero, Torregano has a gently flowing, polished, smooth jazz style that calls to mind such great ivory ticklers as Alex Bugnon, Kevin Toney and David Benoit.

All nine tracks are instrumentals and five of them are original compositions. They generally range in the four- to six-minute time frame, which just doesn’t seem to be long enough. “Aruba Breeze” conjures up images of a tropical repose on the beach, with Torregano’s smooth piano dovetailing nicely into a dubbed background of light strings.

An exceptional track—as is “Promises,” featuring some superb guitar work from Theron Lewis. Brian Quezergue’s bass and Michael Banks’ drums are in perfect sync and all four of them blend into a romantic tune you wish could go on forever. There are nice covers of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September,” Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing” (featuring some fine sax accompaniment on both by local tenor wiz Joseph Saulsbury) and “Through the Fire” which concludes the CD with Torregano soloing.

This is an outstanding record—easily one of the top four or five I’ve reviewed in the past year-and-a-half. Hopefully the new smooth jazz station in town will give this deserving homeboy a whirl.