by Paula Edelstein With the release of Spiral, the award-winning pianist/composer Hiromi Uehara stands at the threshold of limitless possibility. Her third trio recording in as many years finds her in the familiar company of drummer Martin Valihora and bass player Tony Grey , but the CD itself goes beyond expectations. It features all original compositions, including the 28-minute"Music for a Three-Piece Orchestra," a suite of four tracks -- "Open Door/Tuning/Prologue," "Déjà Vu," "Reverse," and "Edge" -- that spotlight Hiromi's formidable technique and impressive compositional skills. The suite was inspired by Hiromi's desire to expand the sound of her trio into orchestral spaces and to give her listeners an intense listening experience. By contrast, the highly energetic "Return of Kung-Fu World Champion" captures the essence of the trio in a smaller, jazz-rock fusion format that kicks with the same excitement as a martial arts tournament. Th...