Tom Rainey Trio: Camino Cielo Echo (2012)

Mark Corroto

Senior Contributor since 1999

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

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Published: March 25, 2012

For its second outing, drummer Tom Rainey's trio establishes itself as a commanding representative of the latest direction in pioneering jazz. By creating (more like co-creating) music with two of today's in-demand players—guitarist Mary Halvorson Mary Halvorson

guitar and saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock Ingrid Laubrock
b.1970
saxophone —Rainey continues his streak of outings with vanguard players.

The drummer has been heard in cutting-edge bands since the 1990s, led by such esteemed avant-garde players as saxophonists Tim Berne Tim Berne
b.1954
saxophone and Tony Malaby Tony Malaby

sax, tenor , guitarists Nels Cline Nels Cline
b.1956
guitar, electric and David Torn David Torn
b.1953
guitar , and bassist Mark Helias Mark Helias

bass, acoustic . But he is also heard in more traditional settings, playing with the likes of pianists Fred Hersch Fred Hersch
b.1955
piano and Kenny Werner Kenny Werner
b.1951
piano .

Camino Cielo Echo follows the trio's debut Pool School (Clean Feed, 2010). What felt like a one-off assembly the first time around, gels here into a solid working ensemble.

The session sprouts in various directions, from the noisy thrashing of punk jazz to the almost ambient explorations of minimalism. Rainey spreads the composing duties between the three, but they seem to write with the same voice in mind.

If sequencing an album is of any import these days, this disc begins with a statement of purpose. "Expectation Of Exception" picks up momentum, with Rainey applying loose- limb drips and drops of drumming while Laubrock and Halvorson exercise their signature sounds. The guitarist winds through varying pitches and runs that are applied against the saxophonist's breathy extended technique. Halvorson can morph her guitar into a sci-fi synthesizer or effortlessly toss off some Derek Bailey Derek Bailey
1932 - 2005
guitar scrambled eggs.

Not in the mood for chary music making? The trio tears down the walls on "Mullet Toss," "Two Worlds," and "Fluster"—a thumping kick-drum exercise in shredded guitar and hoots and hollering saxophone. Where the freedom allowed here by Rainey ramps up the energy, it also settles into some very satisfying meditative tracks. The trio's simpatico nature eschews hostility for harmony, creating a new path to group interaction.

Track Listing: Expectation Of Exception; Mullet Toss; Mr And Mrs Mundane; Corporal Fusion; Arroyo Burrow; Strada Senza Nome; A Third Line Into Little Miss Strange; Leapfrog; Camino Cielo Echo; Fluster; Mental Stencil; Two Words; June.

Personnel: Tom Rainey: drums; Ingrid Laubrock: saxophones; Mary Halvorson: guitar.

Record Label: Intakt Records
Style: Modern Jazz