Scott Hesse Trio: Intention

Guitarist Scott Hesse self-released his debut album, Intuition, in 1998, but he has been criminally under-recorded since then. At least, that is the conclusion many will draw after listening to his superb trio disc, Intention, recorded live in Chicago in 2023. His most recent date as a leader since 2015's The Stillness of Motion (Origin Records), here he is partnered with bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Dana Hall, with an opportunity to showcase his formidable talents in a way sure to give him the wider visibility he deserves.

Hesse has a warm, mellifluous sound which can have a lulling quality, almost to the point that one can miss the harmonic ingenuity and subtle maneuvers that are present in abundance. These seven tracks are lengthy, serious explorations, rewarding those with the sustained attention needed to appreciate the musicians' various conversational detours and digressions. Sommers is one of the most garrulous bassists one is likely to encounter, and it is a marvel to listen to his fleet lines interweaving with Hesse's own brisk passages on Jerome Kern's "All the Things You Are." But this trio injects its distinctive energy into anything it touches; so whether it is John Coltrane's "Wise One," Wayne Shorter's "Ana Maria " or Ornette Coleman's "Rejoicing," one is treated to first-rate improvisation and tuneful expression from start to finish.

And then there are Hesse's own compositions, three of which are featured here. "Intention" is perhaps the most open-ended track, with a loose free-bop feel which highlights Hall's multi-rhythmic facility, while "From the Inside" has a beguiling melody which unfolds patiently, along with a superlative dialogue between Sommers and Hesse. And "The Night Owl" allows the trio to dial down the temperature a bit, generating a bluesy feel and just a bit more grit in Hesse's guitar.

A nod should also go to Ken Christianson, whose listening space at his Pro Musica facility served as the location for the recording; his fine mastering captures all the nuances of the music. This is yet another successful addition to Calligram Records' assiduous documentation of some of the best jazz coming out of the Windy City.