Cary Kilner
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Cary Kilner's Picks: Volume 72
The Three Sounds – The Song is You & Love for Sale Here is another example of "A Trio Is –”, following the Oscar Peterson format: three musicians who play as one. Octaves, broken octaves, full chords, discreet and complex arrangements, long runs, lots of bluesy riffs, use of extended intros and tags. Very similar to the bluesy romp of Oscar’s trio. Gene Taylor on piano, cookin’ like Oscar. On bass Andrew Simpkins killin’ it like Ray Brown. Bill Dowdy on drums keepin’ thangs tight just as Ed Thigpen did for Oscar. The second tune is a warhorse from my favorite childhood album of theirs. https://youtu.be/cB8VSyJSGis?si=sl06zEbMNIS2sR0Y https://youtu.be/6O6TlIaq6Z0?si=sNV45CBNuxodyRI4 Jean Luc-Ponty – You’ve Changed Perhaps the most beautiful jazz violin playing extant and with an exceptional European rhythm section.This was before he came to the US to play fusion, and his beautiful sensitive sound was lost in the electronic abyss. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=p1OgbMQrl0o&si=e3O7VZWD-nv6nmNN Ari Hoenig, fresh drummer, following in the path of Tony Williams and Brian Blade, heard in two contexts: - Ezra with a quintet – beautiful – a very modern new swinging approach. - Condemnation – amazing interplay https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=dAWBN-Kue2Y&si=JEugw4B-I82-vK-m https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kFeQBTlO1QM&si=sHkeOKdNDRcWFocP Brad Mehldau Trio – Nobody Else But Me, Moon River and I Fall In Love Too Easily Super relaxed medium swing with a beautiful groove. I particularly like how he integrates his left-hand with lines into his improvisation and not just for comping. He tends to self-indulge himself as Keith Jarrett used to do, as heard in the next cut at the end of Moon River. At 7:15 he launches into an a-tempo developmental solo up to the end at 9:30 when he recovers the melody and plays out, so quite a bit of introspective playing you may enjoy. On his third, a beautiful ballad performance, he plays around with very gentle reharmonizations until at the end of the trio portion, 4:35, he weaves a spectacular theme-and-variations until 6:55 when the trio takes it out. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZqZiukHXSg&si=a2bADxSNVEaA0dpE https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=1F3J5BrPtqM&si=5YohaF5eu9yON0NG https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Dclv-4JcUWI&si=AQAWtcTuRCOUzcE0 Steve Gadd – Freedom Jazz Dance Here’s an interesting take on that famous Miles’ tune with his classic modern quintet, but from Miles’ later electric period. It reminds me of Miles’ In a Quiet Way with the multiple keyboards and random guitar riffs. Steve is the classic chameleon like Harvey Mason, kicking butt in multiple contexts. https://youtu.be/PWr2QEcatmw?si=9DwoBvCE8qqQVpVr Jacky Terrasson – Blue in Green and Nausica Speaking of Miles, here is a classic tune from his early album with Bill Evans. He plays extremely slowly and thoughtfully. The second link is a very slow but interesting tune in a video that is fun to watch as Jacky milks this huge grand piano for every note. I believe I heard a bottom C note only found on these stretched harps. https://youtu.be/S-EPdtDaMBY?si=oE50sSjBTNAJ_XNk https://youtu.be/TLnzudRMwYw?si=Sr_cCL_46DUsSlGR Beaux J Poo Boo – Dancing with the Monk I may have sent this quartet long ago but it’s worthy of another listen. https://youtu.be/KKI0RTtceBk?si=SNJw0K9mkkwulep6 Chris Walden BB – Gatsby I didn’t know of this band. But they are beautiful as you will find. And a bass player with a wonderful rich full sound! https://youtu.be/WxaORTCipaY?si=q7dxJf-CWJeMVOmo Jeremy Pelt – I Can’t Escape from You He has a beautiful sound as well. And this nice orchestral arrangement gives him a great foundation. https://youtu.be/thhRQFwoiCE?si=KPNMSXqDx_8-XNQv Robert Kennedy Trio – Long Strides Remember that a jazz organ trio typically consists of left-hand bass (or pedal bass, if slow enough to play effectively), with guitar filling out the harmony with the organ right- hand depending upon who is soloing or playing the lead line https://youtu.be/8CtXxTzOTuM?si=VLQhIvIOo2YM_KTd Keith Jarrett – The Art of Improvisation Whether you love jazz or traditional music, this is a classic video interview. It’s heavy, perhaps worthy of separate shorter listens. Amazing link! Lots of jazz and classical represented, and much trio work along with discussion. I continue to view his trio as one of the predominate modern trios in history along with those of Herbie, Chick, Bill Evans, and McCoy Tyner. https://youtu.be/mb1WIaQaU68?si=ddglI05mYzIzQZYD Eric Alexander -- Some Other Time (2 Performances) This is a wonderful recent tenor player with a beautiful sound, rather like that of the late Micheal Becker. And a great trio behind him on a lovely much-played but not-hackneyed ballad. It’s the same group in the second link but with a string arrangement. See which you prefer; no piano solo in either, https://youtu.be/2DYGKFPIpI4?si=8TDxTddOXGPG_6ji https://youtu.be/MvgpX6R5byM?si=_w21NcYpFSQbVXk5 Emily Remiler Trio and Quartet – Snowfall, Look to the Sky & Strollin’ Love her quiet studied careful improvising using overtones and a unique overall guitar sound. She performs nice interactions within the trio on this famous Claude Thornhill impressionistic modal composition that stays mostly on one chord. The second is with a fresh quartet on a classic Brazilian bossa nova, followed by a Horace Silver bebop tune – so well done and relaxed. https://youtu.be/HCdDrNDZ1JI?si=88sgegpAP-557XRu https://youtu.be/cNy22bWdaHE?si=5ZA1q9VFAPkNfF_J |
