Earlier in Time is the Ofir Shwartz Trio's debut release, and is comprised of his original compositions, with one cover for Paul McCartney's "Here There and Everywhere". From the very first track, "Last Time I Checked I Wasn't a Sea Horse", Shwartz's attractively melodic and Eastern-European flavored jazz writing is apparent, and the history of piano-led groups (think Keith Jarrett, Bobo Stenson, and Rainer Bruninghaus) comes out in "Easy Steps" and "Earlier in Time". With the addition of colored touch on the Drums of Elad Aizikowitch and the stable but yet variant double-bass playing of Amitai Ladin, "Hurricane" is created to swap off the listener. After the energetic but yet gentle "Meaning of Life", you end up with a deep "Piano Suite" which reminds you that this is a great piano album you're holding now.