Carolyn Trowbridge: Found Memories

There has been a notable increase in the number of prominent vibraphone players in the creative music world as 2026 unfolds. People like Joel Ross, Patricia Brennan, Sasha Berliner, and Simon Moullier have all been making names for themselves the past few years. Another one to pay attention to is Carolyn Trowbridge out of Austin, Texas. She has contributed to various types of bands in the Austin area, which is reflected in the wide stylistic sweep of her first album as a leader. 

Trowbridge touches on many different genres of music here, such as reggae and other Caribbean music, funk, rock, classical chamber music and exotica. Many of the album's tracks sound like an evolution of the Fifties exotica music practiced by the likes of Arthur Lyman and Martin Denny.

  The leader's vibraphone is often part of a shifting tapestry that also includes harp, flute, and guitar. This combination's dreamy landscapes emerge as a film noir soundtrack on "Physalia's Journey," a Southwestern desert atmosphere on "Onward," and a bouncy trip to the Caribbean on "Thank You For the Memories, Thank You For the Laughs" and "Tookey's Engine."  The band also proves excellent at conjuring traditional flowing exotica rhythms on "The Lonely Forest Flower" and "Chopin's Seance."  

Trowbridge takes the group in a classical direction on "The Old Woman Who Never Grew Older." Bryan Sunderman's guitar and Elaine Barber's harp maintain a rigid formality that conjures memories of John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet, even when Trowbridge solos. Everyone also expertly switches into fast-paced jazz-rock on "Turtle Heart" and "Grackle Vs. Tacotarian" with Alex Coke, making his presence known on flute. 

Carolyn Trowbridge's group shows an impressive ability to dive into types of music often left by the wayside and come up with something fresh. This makes her work stand out from all the other prominent vibraphonists today.