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Danny Fox Trio: Wide Eyed
ByThe band was formed in 2008, and seems serious about reshaping the piano trio approach. On a set of all pianist/leader Danny Fox's originals, the melody/harmony/rhythm duties are shared, tempos shift, and the influences bounce in from all corners of the music world: Ellington, rock music, bluegrass, circus music, classical, swing, and, ultimatelyon the set's closer, "Tumble Quiet," the steady but unpredictable rhythm of clothes dryer.
Wide Eyed as a title for the CD fits. Much of the sound is motivicmaking use of a few short fragments of a melody in developing a soloand the surprises emerging from and wrapped around those baseline phrases do indeed open the eyes and ears.
"Confederates" starts with a dark chord then develops into an ominous, prickly march, and "Drone" careens and soars, with drummer Max Goldman pushing the momentum before bassist Chris Van Voorst slips into a stealthy solo that Fox breaks interupts via a Red Garland sparkle on he keyboard, a repeated left hand figure anchoring a right hand sprinkle of glimmering light. The title tuneand initially subdued ballad that gathers strengthslows the pace, with its pensive, gorgeous melody, and "Short Al In Brooklyn" struts in a carefree fashion, not a care in the world.
A lot of young piano trios are out there plying the trade, doing their part to reshape the format and make it their own. The Danny Fox Trio proves itself, with Wide-Eyed one of the most successful at the endeavor.
Track Listing
Sterling; Bonkers; All Tolled; Drone; Wide Eyed; Confederates; Short Al In Brooklyn; Patriot Daze; Punches; Funhouse Memory; Tumble Quiet.
Personnel
Album information
Title: Wide Eyed | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Hot Cup Records
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Danny Fox Trio
CD/LP/Track Review
Danny Fox
Dan McClenaghan
Braithwaite & Katz Communications
Hot Cup Records
United States
New York
New York City
Max Goldman
Chris Van Voorst
Red Garland
Wide Eyed