Bryn Roberts: Aloft

Pianist Bryn Roberts has steeped himself in sideman roles and collaborations with singer-songwriters. He has released five albums as a leader in quintet, quartet and duo formats, but 2024 finds him offering up his debut as a leader of a piano trio in Aloft, where he works his trio dream team of bassist Matt Penman and drummer Quincy Davis.

The history of the piano trio is a part of the challenge. Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Red Garland. Those three names—and a hundred others—could scare off the faint of heart. Fortunately, Roberts is a stout-hearted artist who steps into the trio format with his chest thrown out and some pep in his step.

"Let's Agree With Me (That You Agree With Me)," a Roberts original, opens with a bit of a chip on its shoulder and a wry grin. The sound is assured, the trio dynamic snappy and sharp, with Penman and Rogers lifting their instruments above the "modest accompaniment" mode without detracting from the overall vibe. It is a modern sound, but it maintains its short arm's length away from the straight-ahead tradition. The title tune, another of the leader's compositions, is an airy waltz influenced by the writing style of trumpeter Kenny Wheeler.

Five of the seven tunes here come from Roberts' pen. Two are covers: "My Ship" and "You Do Something to Me." The former is an often-covered composition, and the trio lays down a lovely, reverent rendition, with Roberts displaying a swinging, gorgeous touch. At the same time, Porter's tune is given a contemporary arrangement—some more of that pep-in-the-step mode, a free-sounding solo by the leader.

"Amaryllis" was written by Roberts for his wife, Andrea, who is educated in plant physiology and is a lover of all things botanical. It is a stately tune, laid down at a measured pace, like, perhaps, a time-lapse video of the opening of a beautiful blossom.