On Chansons d'Édith Piaf, Tethered Moon--the adventurous trio of iconoclastic Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummer Paul Motian--focuses its abstract, impressionist lens on the legacy of Édith Piaf, one of the most revered figures in the history of popular song. The quintessential torch singer, whose name means "little sparrow" in Parisian slang, seduced a global audience with dramatic performances of cabaret and theatrical songs distinctively delivered in a bold voice that contrasted starkly with her tiny, frail appearance. Kikuchi's interpretations begin with impressionistic improvisations that play hide-and-seek with the charts of various chansons until a timeless Piaf theme emerges like a ray of sunshine from behind a rain cloud. Peacock and Motian's skill at effortlessly playing both inside and outside changes and their ability to comfortably switch from performing in free-form and structured contexts provides a lush setting for Kikuchi's broad pianistic strokes. --Mitchell Feldman