Forget the big names; "Fire Down Below," the new album by pianist and composer Steve Elmer and his excellent trio, will knock your socks off. Monkishly playful in terms of style (especially on "Ga's Jambalaya"), Elmer is unfailingly compelling when he solos. His band is also first rate. Hide Tanaka contributes a beautiful arco bass solo on "Constant Lee," and Shingo Okudaira is a powerful driver on drums throughout. Ultimately what may be most impressive about Elmer is his compositional skill; these are great tunes just keep coming. The title cut is an absolute knock-out with a wonderfully catchy head, and then it's off to the races. With lightning speed and absolute harmonic precision, Elmer makes Big Brown seem like a turtle. When he slows down for a gorgeous ballad like "Lasting Love," he is equally impressive in his subtlety. And, most importantly, he is totally unpredictable. If you've never heard of Steve Elmer it's your loss.