Trios is the brand new ECM release from legendary pianist Carla Bley, and to coincide with the title of the CD she of course is joined by two equally noteworthy musicians to complete the 'trio'; longtime partner Steve Swallow on bass and tenor & soprano saxophone veteran Andy Sheppard. Featuring all older Bley original compositions, Trios breathes new life into these songs, with the results warm & charming, as if the musicians just sat down in the middle of a rehearsal room and and fed off each others energy and emotions and banged this one right out. Spontaneous yet inviting, Trios is pure jazz magic from these virtuoso's.
Bley's delicate, melodic touch is always a thing of beauty, and the pianist doesn't disappoint here. "Utviklingssang" is a marvelous track, complete with majestic piano melodies over which Sheppard just soars, and the somber "Vashkar" sees the two creating some irresistible lines together, proof that instrumental jazz music can have catchy hooks as well. The more complex "Les Trois Lagons (d'apres Henri Matisse)" follows, complete with intricate rhythms from Bley & Swallow and dizzying sax excursions courtesy of Sheppard. At just under 15-minutes long, this epic takes the trio through many peaks and valleys, and it's quite breathtaking. "Wildlife" is brimming with emotional, melodic lead sax that just tugs at your heart, and the whimsical, upbeat "The Girl Who Cried Champagne" is another lengthy number that delivers on multiple levels (catchy melodies, amazing musicianship, and complete band synergy, just to name three) and is a great finale for this fine album.
The production is top notch here, just dynamic enough and allowing the music to breath and flow. Don't expect showy solos here or bombast, as this trio are more about feel and allowing the melodic integrity of these classic compositions to come to the forefront. As is usually the case with most ECM releases, they've included a thick booklet packed with great black & white photos from the sessions for an extra touch. Well done all around!
Track Listing
1) Utviklingssang
2) Vashkar
3) Les Trois Lagons (d'apres Henri Matisse)
- Plate XVII
- Plate XVIII
- Plate XIX
4) Wildlife
- Horns
- Paws Without Claws
- Sex with Birds
5) The Girl Who Cried Champagne
- Parts 1, 2 & 3
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