After returning home from a sleepover at a friend's house, Pamela York couldnt help but notice a new piece of furniture in the living room.

The aging British upright piano may not have been the sweetest sounding instrument, but it changed the life of a wide-eyed 8-year-old.

Years later, the Canadian-born pianist, now a rising star in jazz circles, may be wondering when her 3-year-old daughter, Anna, will begin plunking out a tune, just as her mom did at a relatives home in a small town in British Columbia.

She's already growing up too quickly, said York, who has penned a song about motherhood titled All Too Soon (for Anna) for her new CD, The Way of Time, to be released in late September. The CD, recorded in the traditional jazz trio format, includes six original compositions and her take on six jazz standards.

I wrote some of the material with that kind of theme, that time changes us, and one generation replaces another, she said.

York, who married an American and now lives in Houston, is part of the new generation of jazz pianists who have absorbed the style of legendary players such as Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans the first jazz artists who inspired her and added their own voice.

After obtaining an associate's degree at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music, York received a Canada Council grant in 1990 to study jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduation she earned a masters degree in jazz at the University of Tennessee.

I really think that where you study affects how you play, said York. I went from a small town to Boston, and it was a big cultural change, taking my first ride on a subway and seeing all those people on the street. You begin to play differently when you grow as a person.

York has studied with jazz greats Hugh Fraser and Donald Brown, among others. In 2000, she attended a two-week intensive summer jazz camp of sorts in Aspen, Colo., at which her instructors included Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves.

From a performance point of view, York said working in California with esteemed bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton in the sessions for Blue York, her debut CD in 2001, turned her head.

It really allowed you to bring out your own personality, and you understand what its like to trust one another to take chances musically. The recording created the experience of what it would be like as if it was being performed in your living room. They were pretty picky about that.

The 11-track recording was done with no editing or overdubbing, and Yorks melodic piano voicing flows freely, especially when the trio blows through a standard swing. One of the albums highlights is her Latin-infused take on Gershwins Fascinating Rhythm.

Yorks new album includes the same mix of blues, ballads and some heavy swinging with a sprinkling of Latin grooves, though she concedes she does get way out there a couple of times.

Its all about catching the spontaneity, she said. I mean, with a rock album, you can layer and fix things, but with jazz its not like you can redo a solo. We did eight of the 12 (new songs) in one take.

With the release of the new CD, York hopes to attract a wider audience, just like another more famous export from Nanaimo, B.C., has done.

York recalls hanging out with superstar jazz pianist Diana Krall who coincidentally also plans to release her latest CD in September when she was still a complete unknown talent.

York, 15, and Krall, about five years older, had the same high school music teacher, and would sit in at each others gigs, often outnumbering the audience.

Krall gave her young understudy plenty of tips, and turned her on to Red Garland and Winton Kelly, pianists who worked with Miles Davis.

Just how she swings, was how York answered a question about what makes Krall special. Shes really developed her own jazz piano voicing and though she doesnt have the vocal chops like Ella (Fitzgerald), she can really tell a story effectively. She knows exactly what tunes work for her, and when you hear them, you cant think of them being done any other way.

York, who sings on two of the new CDs tracks, said Krall's influence has helped her know when to pass up a favorite song, and not to be afraid of changing the key of a recognizable jazz standard. Said York, Finding the right key to paint the right colors in a way that is really effective is a true art.