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Steve Swell Trio: Atmospheels
By“Labor’s Daze” and “Cosmo Crater” capture the trio’s more agitated side as the three crash and cavort with unruly abandon. The only drawback to these tunes is their sometimes unyielding density. “Folk Tune,” is built on just that serving up some delicious solos from all three players, particularly Swell who takes the longest space to relinquish his verdant ideas. “Saved As One” also highlights Swell in a pugnacious display of lower register jabs and cuffs that cow the tune’s melody into pummeled submission. Grassi’s disorderly drums contribute further to the din while simultaneous maintaining a rhythmic center. On “BA-1” the trio completely shifts gears playing softly muted unison passages emphasizing sonic space and nuance. The opening duet between Swell and Grassi is suffused with the kind of interplay most groups yearn for. Alto saxophone and trombone are the focal points on “Let’s Go Right Ahead” where Connell and Swell blend and shape their lines with uncanny telepathic accuracy. “Atmospheels-Stage 2” (what happened to Stage 1?) is built around a cyclic themes which recollect both AACM and Latin influences. The concluding “Soul Traveler Con Fuego” carries over some of the Latin elements, most notably in Grassi’s shakers and shells, and serves as a fitting coda for the disc. Thanks to Bob Rusch and everyone at CIMP all three of these players are finally getting their well deserved due through ongoing opportunities to record the wonderful music that inhabits their fertile minds. Hopefully these fruitful associations will continue to produce sessions of this high caliber for years to come.
Track Listing
Labor
Personnel
Steve Swell- trombone, Will Connell- alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, Lou Grassi- drums, percussion.
Album information
Title: Atmospheels | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: CIMP Records