Agustí Fernández / Barry Guy / Ramón López: Morning Glory (2011)

Mark Corroto

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Mark misses his large dog Louie, but endeavors daily to find and listen to new and interesting sounds.

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Published: May 11, 2011

Agustí Fernández / Barry Guy / Ramón López: Morning Glory

In what could easily mistaken for a release on the ECM label, Morning Glory inhabits that crisp minimalist style so familiar to producer Manfred Eicher. Surprisingly enough, this studio recording, with bonus Live In New York disc, is delivered by three of today's most zealous improvisers and outcats.

Formed in 2005, the trio's previous release, Aurora (Maya, 2006), began bassist Barry Guy Barry Guy
b.1947
bass established their improvisation bona fides with saxophonist Evan Parker Evan Parker
b.1944
sax, tenor 's intellectual explorations and Mats Gustafsson Mats Gustafsson
b.1964
reeds 's noisier ones. Each player also has a dedication to classical and chamber musics and perhaps that is where these compositions and improvisations intersect.

Disc one, the studio session Morning Glory, is a combination of six composed pieces by Fernández and six group improvisations. While the compositions are influenced more by melody, the improvised parts stick to the trio's minimalist guidelines for music-making. That is, their brush strokes are nominal, like shodo or Japanese calligraphy. The trio performs simple melodies and improvised ballads, speaking softly with a very big brush. The music is a cross between the 1960s trios of Bill Evans Bill Evans
1929 - 1980
piano and the modern work of Marcin Wasilewski Marcin Wasilewski

piano .

The bonus CD, recorded live in 2009 at New York's Jazz Standard, finds the trio stretching out a bit from the punctiliousness of the studio set, slightly departing from its reserve. Playing the music first heard on Aurora, the three take a few liberties to move a bit more outward for the audience. Still, nothing detracts from the intimacy created by these masters.

Track Listing: CD1 (Morning Glory): La Nina de la Calle Ibiza; Morning Glory; Unfinished Letter; Zahori; An Anonymous Soul; Perpetuum Mobile; Benito; The Magical Chorus; Glade; Mourning A Sudden Appearance; Belvedere. CD2 (Live in New York): Don Miguel; Odyssey; Can Ram; David M; Aurora; No Ni Nó; Rounds.

Personnel: Agustí Fernández: piano; Barry Guy: bass; Ramón López: drums, percussion.

Record Label: Maya