Following a two-year journey to New York, where he studied with Richie Beirach, Belgian pianist Eric Legnini began building his career in the early ‘90s with a straight-ahead sound deeply linked to post-bop tradition. He pursued a swinging sound for much of the decade, working at home and in France, but after joining the quartet led by the popular Italian saxophonist Stefano di Battista, his innate love for soul and hip-hop blossomed. His trio masterfully adapted the funky sound of early-‘60s soul jazz, as heard on the gospel-soaked “Home Sweet Soul.” He’s since casually erased genre boundaries and actively collaborated with R&B singers and rappers.