Three of today's most adept pianists -- Stephen Scott, Benny Green, and Brad Mehldau -- continue to fulfill expectations through steady evolution. Green has ditched the faux funkiness that marred his recordings and has become a mainstream modernist. Mehldau, an alumnus of Joshua Redman's group, deftly balances considered lyricism with youthful vigor. ''Beautiful'' displays Scott's growing assuredness as a soloist but unfortunately suffers from cloying slickness. ''Kaleidoscope'': A-; ''Beautiful'': B; ''Art of the Trio'': B+
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