The piano jazz trio still remains the marrow of modern music. Here are five recent releases by the classic piano/bass/drums combo (with one exception) that never gets stale.
Charles Williams leads a team of DeAndre Manning/b and Mike Warren/dr through a clever mix of swing and soul. His touch is rich and old school, not afraid of doubling on keyboards and having Manning pick up the electric bass for a fun and shuffling blues read of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” or producing an R&B dash to Billy Strayhorn’s “Chelsea Bridge.” On the acoustic side, he has an old world stride on “In My Solitude” while using Jamal like spaciousness on a rich cadence of “I Can’t Help It” while his “Emily” is lovingly lyrical and his solo closing of “Miss Celies Blues” is a vintage stride right. Grandpa’s hands!
Tommaso Taddonio plays piano and writes the material for the Triple Tea team of Carlo De Biaggio/b and Martin Tamisier/dr. The team hits hard with a lot of rock feel on they synthy “Light Spirit” and urgent “1994” while the big beat of “Resistance” opens with some rich solo work by Taddonio. Lovely and longing moods are produced on “Fur Maryjane” and the thoughtful “R.G.T” while the three tell intriguing stories on the title track. Varied moods and pulses.
The compositions by iconic drummer Paul Motian are spotlighted by pianist Russ Lossing and his mates Masa Kamaguchi/b and Billy Mintz/dr. Lossing has Mintz working overtime on the angular and herky jerky tunes such as the post bop and elliptical “Boomerang,” the kinetic “Mumbo Jumbo” and the crisp “Dance.” Lossing’s touch is spacious for the quiete “Asia” and delicate as he teams with Kamaguchi for “Introduction” and the delicate “Etude” while creating a rich opening for the team on a nimble “Jack of Clubs.” A rich mix of delicacies and sharp corners.
Pianist Yaniv Taubenhouse leads a team of Rick Rosato/b and Jerad Lippi/dr through a mix of originals and standards. The team is high on communication, as the team changes directions on the versatile title track. The three get stately and uptown for “Paris” and “On the Street Where You Live” with Lippi’s brushes leading the way, and the team sways to an easy blues reading of the Depression Era classic “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”. The three drive with excitement on “Pigeon House Blues” and are festive for “Paratodos.” Impressive teamwork.
The one exception to the piano-bass-drums rule is when Joe Policastro lets his bass do the leading for his trio with guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery. The use of guitar works well, with Miler adding clever Asian chimes to the Talking Heads piece “This Must be The Place” and giving fuzzy effects to the vintage Santo and Johnny “The Wandering Sea.” A dash of rural Americana is evoked for Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” before Policastro gives a bop feel to “Bloodshot” and “Oceans of Notions” as well as a bluesy lilt to th swinging “Speak Slow(ly).” A rich and clever take of covers and hip mix of originals. Worth seeing in concert!