Steve Lodder: 2 sorts of 3

Pianist Steve Lodder's album 2 sorts of 3 was originally envisaged as two separate projects, one acoustic and one electronic. He ultimately bought them together to create a single release that bridges both plugged and unplugged worlds.

Lodder utilizes two contrasting lineups, on the electronic side, he is joined by his long-term collaborators; Dudley Phillips on guitar and electric and double basses, alongside drummer Nic France. On the acoustic side he works with Freddie Jensen on double bass and drummer Marius Rodrigues.

A former Cambridge organ scholar, Lodder's career spans jazz, world and orchestral projects. In addition to his long association with Andy Sheppard. He has also collaborated with Paul McCartney, John Etheridge, Elvis Costello and Monica Vasconcelos. On 2 sorts of 3, he moves between a Yamaha acoustic piano and a Rhodes Mk8 electric piano, giving the album a blend of classic-toned keyboards alongside modern innovation.

On the acoustic side, the eight minutes of "Sand Twixt Toes" stand out. Its fresh contemporary feel moves through fragmented rhythms before arriving at a samba feel with Lodder's piano improvisation flowing neatly to Jensen's fine solo. The ballad "Ridges And Slopes" provides contrast, featuring a delightful melody with piano and bass weaving gracefully together. Rodrigues provides the gentle rhythmic framework for imaginative bass and piano explorations on "Elephant in a Teashop in Paris." There is also an elephant on the album cover, drawn by Lodder's son Louis.

Despite the countless effects offered by the Rhodes Mk8, Lodder focuses on the instrument's iconic sound, building a flowing, soulful improv on "Komodo's Kimono" as Phillips and France build the groove. Lodder is at his best on "Red Sails Creek" as the trio's chemistry fuels their exploratory edge. Their interplay comes to the fore again, this time in a more subtle fashion, on the quieter "The World Slips By," with Lodder's gentle exploration proving a highlight.

Both trios work superbly, showing Lodder's keyboard skills across a broad range of moods that span fusion to contemporary jazz phrasing. He's clearly at home with both electric and acoustic expression, making this an album that offers a rich mixture of tone and dynamics, with each trio providing distinctive approaches to groove, melody and improvisation.