Jazz: Freckles and Filigree

At times the pianist sounds like Oscar Peterson or early Dave Brubeck, as he lays down a firm base of intricate rhythms and unpredictable chord progressions. The right hand produces a steady, lilting melodic line that can flow from originals to classic themes—as in Chopin Prelude/ How Insensitive, which leads from an E minor prelude into a bossa nova favorite with a similar mood and melody. Pretty good for a 15-year-old. As Critic Leonard Feather puts it, by the time Craig Hundley is old enough to shave, he might well be the best-known pianist in jazz.

Ninety pounds of boyish energy,...