"[4] As jazz historian and critic Martin Williams observes, writing in The Saturday Review: First Time Out is from a rather unexpected source: it is a recital by a piano trio, led by Clare Fischer, a man previously known for his arranging and composing.

"[7]While struggling to pinpoint Fischer's pianistic forebears, finding elements of both Bill Evans and Dodo Marmarosa, critic Leonard Feather echoes Williams' essential point, noting Fischer's "complete command of the keyboard; unlike Gil Evans, Tadd Dameron, and other arrangers who are secondarily pianists, he can be judged entirely by a pianistic yardstick.

"[10] Gramophone's review praises "this superlative album," in part for preventing Fischer from "becoming one of the most neglected figures in jazz.

"[5] The Atlanta Daily World's Albert Anderson stops short of such hyperbole, but does acknowledge his own surprise: I knew well before reviewing this record that Fischer was a composer of note.

However, after listening to these tracks (five of which are Fischer originals), I was tremendously impressed by his facility with a tune - He plays with mastery, melody and perhaps, too, with his audience in mind.