JEAN-MICHEL PILC TRIO
Together Live at Sweet Basil, Volume 1
A Records
AL73195

When I looked at the tracks on this disc, it went straight to the bottom of my pile. Not only did Pilc choose to load this recording with standards, but it seemd to me that he chose the most tired and hackneyed standards possible. What, pray tell, could a piano trio do with "C Jam Blues?" When I finally got around to listening to Together Live at Sweet Basil, Volume 1, I realized that I had vastly underestimated the abilities of the 30-year-old pianist and his young trio. This is a wonderful CD, bursting with unflagging invention, excitement, passion and musical risk-taking. Pilc is an energetic pianist, to say the least. Not only does he play a lot of piano, he has a lot of good ideas. Better yet, his group seems to communicate telepathically, and they stoke Pilc’s improvisational fire without overwhelming or grandstanding. Drummer Ari Hoenig’s playing here is no less fiery than on Xenoblast, the recent disc by the Jazz Mandolin Project. Francois Moutin is with Hoenig and Pilc every step of the way, and contributes several witty solos to boot.

Listening to Together Live at Sweet Basil, Volume 1, I was reminded quite favorably of Ahmad Jamal’s interactive, energetic, mid-90s trio with drummer Yoron Isreal and bassist James Cammack. Pilc certainly pushes harder against the boundaries of time and tonality than Jamal, but he is just as tasteful and perceptive. Pilc’s interpretations of hazardously over-done standards won me over, but his originals (particularly "Jealousy" and "Runaway") had me on the edge of my seat. One of the year’s better piano trio recordings, I would give Together Live at Sweet Basil, Volume 1 the edge over, say, Roy Haynes recent recording with Danilo Perez and John Patitucci. I can’t wait to hear Volume 2.

Dave Wayne

Track Listing: 1. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; 2. Tea For Two; 3. Jealousy; 4. Runaway; 5. Muriel; 6. C Jam Blues; 7. Trio Improvisation; 8. My One and Only Love; 9. Bye Bye Blackbird; 10. Together; 11. My Foolish Heart

Personnel: Jean-Michel Pilc, piano; Francois Moutin, acoustic bass; Ari Hoenig, drums