Spider Trio: Permission

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,632 total)

Published: February 1, 2001

“The Spider Trio” is all about three jazz musicians who at various points in time immigrated to New Orleans, La to indulge their musical sensibilities and respective crafts into the City’s rich jazz heritage. Tenor saxophonist Earle Brown currently performs with New Orleans local hero, Tuba Fats and his “Chosen Few Brass Band” among others while bassist Dan McNaughton and drummer Joe Williams have since moved out of the area for various reasons. However, the newly released effort titled, Permission represents the Trio’s June 13th 1998 performance at New Orleans’ “Boiler Room”.

Basically, the band incorporates a New Orleans type vibe, thanks to Earle Brown’s corpulent tone and soul/jazz licks yet the musicians also skirt the boundaries of modern jazz via hearty soloing and three-way dialogue. Hence, a sense of intimacy prevails as the trio’s balanced and at times loose interplay enhances the often bluesy and impassioned lines, strong soloing and subtle themes.

Bassist Dan McNaughton provides a booming, wooden toned sound as he also serves as the traffic cop throughout this diverse set consisting of funk, mid-tempo swing vamps and bouncy motifs; whereas, drummer Joe Williams’ exhibits shrewd soloing abilities while frequently altering the overall tone and pulse of these pieces. Through it all, the musicians perform with a zealous demeanor as the personalized chemistry and tight-knit ensemble work shines forth in impressive fashion.

This recording can be purchased through “CDBaby”

Track Listing: 6th W/D Waltz, Permission, Viennese Vibrations, Late and Early, 12:15, Summons, Mold on the Guitar, You Know, Lighter than Light, Birds and Butterflies

Personnel: Earle Brown; tenor saxophone: Joe Williams; drums: Dan McNaughton; bass

Record Label: Independent Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream