Dave Solazzo: Locrian Skye

Pianist Dave Solazzo and The Bridge—a trio that includes drummer Bill D'Augustino and bassist Matthew F. Vacanti—may be better known in the jazz world as accomplished sidemen, but they came together in 2023 to record Locrian Skye, with the pianist serving as the leader. In some ways, the music recalls the standard jazz piano trio mode—the music of Bill Evans, Tommy Flanagan and Ahmad Jamal. In other ways, there is an elasticity of interplay, with unconventional harmonics and rhythms lurking in the crevices. In the somewhat ramshackle sound, a subtle—and at times not so subtle—thumbing of the nose at the tradition emerges.

Some of this comes from the trio's use of the Locrian mode—and if you are not a professional musician or deep into the logistics of music making, a trip to Google Land can help explain exactly just how complex this level of composing and playing is, no matter how loose, relaxed and fun to play it may sound.

The set has eight tunes, all Solazzo originals. The opener, sparkling "Salina Street," sounds like it should be a jazz standard, something written by John Coltrane before he flew free. "Locrian Skye" is deliberative, flirting with a gentle dissonance. "Get Lifted" sounds spiritual, as if experienced from the pews, and "Dave's Waltz" sways into a brief nod to Coltrane's groundbreaking take on "My Favorite Things,"

Solazzo, home-based in central New York State, has been around the jazz scene for better than two decades. Locrian Skye is his particularly fine debut recording as a leader.