JETman Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Today, I decided to focus my listening on 6 recently acquired and released trio recordings. They were all highly anticipated, and I'm happy to say that none of them disappoint. 1. Masabumi Kikuchi (p), Thomas Morgan (b), Paul Motian (d) - Sunrise (ECM) 2. Estbjorn Svensson (p), Dan Berglund (b), Magnus Ostrom (d) - 301 (ACT) 3. Jonny King (p), Ed Howard (b), Victor Lewis (d) - Above All (Sunnyside) 4. Brad Mehldau (p), Larry Grenadier (b), Jeff Ballard (d) - Ode (Nonesuch) 5. Enrico Pieranunzi (p), Scott Colley (b), Antonio Sanchez (d) - Permutation (Cam Jazz) 6. Steve Lehman (as), Matt Brewer (b), Damion Reid (d) - Dialect Fluorescent (Pi Recordings) The Kikuchi is Paul Motian's final recorded studio appearance, and consists of 10 improvised pieces. Very spare, very dark, very intense stuff. The E.S.T. recording consists of "leftovers" from the sessions for "Leucocyte" which was recorded mere months before Estbjorn Svensson's untimely passing. The music is consistently exciting, leaving me to wonder why any of the tracks were left off the final album in the first place. The Jonny King represents a return to recording for a pianist who showed lots of promise during his "young lion" days in the early to mid-90s. His Criss Cross and Enja recordings were highly touted at the time of their release. As always, Victor Lewis is the perfect drummer for the occasion. The Brad Mehldau trio cd is the most highly-publicized of the bunch. As usual the trio plays to a high level, but for me, the concept does not show the level of maturity that I would expect at this point in the trio's development. In direct contrast, the new trio record from the highly-underrated Enrico Pieranunzi shows a maturity in its concept that Mehldau should hope to achieve in the future. The rock solid rhythm team of Colley and Sanchez is nothing short of remarkable, and provides Pieranunzi with exactly the type of support he needs to further fuel his already highly-developed ideas. The trio release I was most looking forward to hearing was Steve Lehman's, as the piano-less trio configuration is a favorite of mine. Over the last decade or so, Lehman has shown a consistent progression in his development. This record is short (about 45 minutes), sweet, to the point and kicks some serious ass. The playing is inventive and crisp. To add to the fun, Lehman covers Trane's "Moment's Notice", Duke Pearson's "Jeannine" and Jackie Mac's "Mr. E". This is yet another triumph for Liberty Ellman and Pi Recordings. Edited April 11, 2012 by JETman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 The trio release I was most looking forward to hearing was Steve Lehman's, as the piano-less trio configuration is a favorite of mine. Over the last decade or so, Lehman has shown a consistent progression in his development. This record is short (about 45 minutes), sweet, to the point and kicks some serious ass. The playing is inventive and crisp. To add to the fun, Lehman covers Trane's "Moment's Notice", Duke Pearson's "Jeannine" and Jackie Mac's "Mr. E". This is yet another triumph for Liberty Ellman and Pi Recordings. Cool! I've never heard Lehman play Jazz with a capital "J." I'm getting this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Storer Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 The Brad Mehldau trio cd is the most highly-publicized of the bunch. As usual the trio plays to a high level, but for me, the concept does not show the level of maturity that I would expect at this point in the trio's development. In direct contrast, the new trio record from the highly-underrated Enrico Pieranunzi shows a maturity in its concept that Mehldau should hope to achieve in the future. The rock solid rhythm team of Colley and Sanchez is nothing short of remarkable, and provides Pieranunzi with exactly the type of support he needs to further fuel his already highly-developed ideas. I'm curious about how you would define "maturity of concept." What makes a concept mature or not mature? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjazzg Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 I agree about the Kikuchi and Lehman. Both strong and vital releases in very different ways - one quite in your face (Lehman, love the production too) the other a quiet storm. Listened to Mehldau on Spotify and either i've heard too many of his and I'm sated or it's all beginning to sound a little formulaic. I'd not enjoyed the trio as much since Ballard's arrival, just doesn't seem to have the flexibility that Rossy brought to the beat. Shame as I had high hopes for it. Piernanunzi, i'd stopped buying only as I'd a fair number but he's certainly an interesting player. Similarly with EST - asking myself, do I need another recording by them, although the previous posthumous relaese from the same sessions was a very stimulating listen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETman Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 The Brad Mehldau trio cd is the most highly-publicized of the bunch. As usual the trio plays to a high level, but for me, the concept does not show the level of maturity that I would expect at this point in the trio's development. In direct contrast, the new trio record from the highly-underrated Enrico Pieranunzi shows a maturity in its concept that Mehldau should hope to achieve in the future. The rock solid rhythm team of Colley and Sanchez is nothing short of remarkable, and provides Pieranunzi with exactly the type of support he needs to further fuel his already highly-developed ideas. I'm curious about how you would define "maturity of concept." What makes a concept mature or not mature? It's difficult for me to explain without your having heard the cd. Hell, I've listened to it several tines and I can't properly put it into words. I think mjazzg put it better than I could in post #4. A little too formulaic, and nothing that I hadn't heard from Mehldau before. Don't get me wrong -- it's a good enough album musically, but as someone who has been following him from the beginning, I was expecting more. You, of course, might have a differing viewpoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 all in all I count 18 musicians, unless some of the same are on different sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 The Lehman is excellent IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETman Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 all in all I count 18 musicians, unless some of the same are on different sessions. Yes, Allen -- 6 trio records x 3 musicians each = 18 musicians. That Columbia education is finally beginning to pay off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 good thing they're not quartets - I'd run out of fingers and toes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETman Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 good thing they're not quartets - I'd run out of fingers and toes. Say it along with me (several times if necessary): "Six times four equals twenty-four". I guess this is yet another demonstration of why growing up in NYC beats the holy hell out of growing up on Long Guyland! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 well, first mistake I made in Massapequa was drinking the water. I started out like Einstein. The rest is history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunky Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) I agree about the Kikuchi and Lehman. Both strong and vital releases in very different ways - one quite in your face (Lehman, love the production too) the other a quiet storm. I know none of these but reckon the Kikuchi and Lehman could find a home in my collection. I have enough EST/Mehldau to last some time and to be honest I'm tired of both. Edited April 11, 2012 by Clunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Still looking forward to the Kikuchi. I know I'll dig it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETman Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Everyone's sleeping on King! I'm a little surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.