Pianist Geri Allen titled The Gathering in light of the CD"s diverse breadth of players. Playwright August Wilson"s musical director, Dwight Andrews, adds an array of flutes to several tracks. And percussionist Mino Cinelu brightens the rhythms as trumpeter Wallace Roney and trombonist Robin Eubanks play darker lines on the title track. Then Vernon Reid, famed for his hard-rocking guitar in the band Living Color, comes on board to add electric grit to "Dark Prince" and classical guitar-inflected warmth to "Ray." Her esteemed guest players aside, Allen plays a robust piano, preferring the lower registers for their harmonic shades but also courting adventure with angular phrasing. Allen"s compositions are each exciting, alternately sweet and inwardly complex--showing more than a touch of Wayne Shorter"s influence. --Andrew Bartlett