Chicago pianist Peter Schwendener has a fine quintet outing on “Kickstand” (Proteus), mostly of cannily arranged standards. He sets the pace and the interpretive manner for the group, something that’s a secret of leadership involving a delicate balance between decreeing a boring sameness and allowing a scattergun result of headstrong sidemen expressing themselves.

His style at the keyboard is understated, modestly allowing phrasing and an emphasis on melody to speak more substantially than decorative splash or virtuoso thunder can usually provide. I loved his reflective, unaccompanied opening in Billy Strayhorn’s “My Little Brown Book,” soon joined in spirit by Bill Overton’s laid-back tenor. The sax is “tacet” on Oscar Pettiford’s “Tricotism,” which bursts into swing-era swagger during trumpeter Art Davis’ solo. That outing doubtless was imbued with extra confidence by its immediate predecessor from bassist Dan Delorenzo. (You can’t call “Tricotism” without including a bass solo, after all.)

Tasteful drumming by George Fludas throughout helps make this an eminently charming set, capped by a rousing, yet somehow relaxed, tour through the Duke Ellington chestnut “Jump for Joy.

A note to jazz-minded travelers: For more information on the pianist’s June 7 gig at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, go to www.peterschwendener.com

By: Jay Harvey, June 3, 2011