Tony Malaby Cello Trio: Warblepeck

Malaby pulls several elements from his schematic bag. "Sky Church" rides on Hollenback's light percussion, the detail scattered by Lonberg-Holm and Malaby. The trio's conversation spurs ideas on the quick, with response being core to the dialogue as its thrust and parry moves into shadow and light. They find intensity as easily as they do calm, which they blend seamlessly. Freedom finds its fount in structure with all three letting their creativity drink consummately from it.

Cohesive freedom and intuition are the hallmarks of "Chicotaso," as disparate strands weave into a whole. Once the tapestry takes on a cogent shape, the trio sets about daubing individual colors. Malaby digs deep into tonality with his hard phrases becoming the cornerstone. Lonberg-Holm greases the movement with swift, slithering lines and Hollenbeck frames the beat with a judicious use of space.

Bill Frisell's "Waiting Inside" is set alight with radiant warmth. The trio brings in a chamber music quality built on Lonberg-Holm's cello, with Malaby gently introducing the theme. The ensemble lines are pure, pulsing from the appealing melody and as the trio stays within these vestiges, the composition is given new lifeblood.

Empathy and adventure make for music that is vibrant with texture and pulsating with emotional power.

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