Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Martial Solal Trio: Balade du 10 Mars

Martial Solal Trio: Balade du 10 Mars

By Robert Spencer
June 1, 1999
View read count

Martial Solal has always been a remarkable pinaist, both in his work with Lee Konitz and others and in his own right. This recording is no different: it contains Solal playing, with a trio, a program of (mostly) standards, but with anything but a standard sensibility. He continually finds new ways to breathe life into them. Whether he does it melodically, harmonically, rhythmically, or all three, he is always breathtakingly successful, and makes what might have been a ho-hum program in the hands of a lesser player into a fascinating journey.

The ten-millionth cover of "'Round Midnight" (here called, in Milesian fashion, "'Round About Midnight") shows Solal's method in microcosm. It takes Solal awhile to get around to the melody - or does it? Suddenly he's been there all along, approaching it sidelong, dipping in and out of it, finding "Misterioso" in it. Exploring, in short, utterly new avenues. Quite a feat for such an overplayed song.

Of course, some credit for the wonder of this disc must go to his trio mates, particularly the extraordinary drummer Paul Motian. Motian has impeccable taste, and knows just when to whisper and when to shout: not an inconsiderable feat when playing with the often unpredictable Solal.

Anyone who loves piano trio music shouldn't miss the wild and marvelous playing of Martial Solal.

Track listing: Night and Day / Gang of Five / Softly as in a Morning Sunrise / 'Round About Midnight / Almost Like Being in Love / Balade du 10 Mars / The Lady is a Tramp / My Old Flame / The Newest Old Waltz.

Personell: Solal, p; Marc Johnson, b; Paul Motian, d.

Personnel

Martial Solal Trio

Album information

Title: Balade du 10 Mars | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Soul Note

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Interview with Tom Varner
< Previous

Mnemosyne
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.