George Crotty Trio: Chronotope

Surf the web in search of the word "chronotope" and encounter explanations concerning "literary theory of philosophy and language to describe how time and space are represented in language..." And so on. A bit cerebral for the layman, perhaps, but Chronotope, from cellist George Crotty and his trio, seems not all that brainy. Visceral, perhaps, and organic in its embrace of influences from the Middle East, South America and India. Taking a lead from the piano trio format, Crotty fronts a trio featuring bassist Jonathan Chapman and drummer Matias Recharte. Call it world music, but throw in a sprinkling of the astral, beyond-space-and-time vibe of the tune "Snowglobe."

Five of the nine tunes—all Crotty originals—presented on Chronotope feature percussion augmentation, upping the trans-global feeling of the music. But the opener, "Island Incidental," is straight-through cello, bass and drums, a danceable, brimming-with-life jaunt with intertwining strings and crisp, snappy drum work from Recharte.

These sometimes high-energy, sometimes pensive, cross cultural explorations of global sounds came about during a time of pandemic-induced travel restrictions. A virtual, in-the-studio travelog is the result. World music aside, the title tune could morph into a rock anthem, with Crotty's sharp, guitar-like pizzicato work coming together with Chapman's sludgy bass and Recharte's seismic drumming, while "Prayer Dance" elicits images of a bustling Middle Eastern market place.

"Metamorphosis" floats on a cloud; "Halftime Hajaz" features intricate three-way interplay and a relentless momentum, while "Banish The Birds" is an immersion in ambient atmospherics.