Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jamie Saft - Steve Swallow - Bobby Previte: Loneliness Road

14

Jamie Saft - Steve Swallow - Bobby Previte: Loneliness Road

By

Sign in to view read count
Jamie Saft - Steve Swallow - Bobby Previte: Loneliness Road
So, the front man for the rock/pop group called The Stooges gets an invite to pitch in with a classic jazz piano trio. The Stooge would be Iggy Pop; the piano trio, Jamie Saft's, with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bobby Previte. That's quite an experiment, like something Frank Zappa might have tried.

Pianist Jamie Saft has hitched a big part of his star to John Zorn, appearing, as a sideman or leader, on a score of Zorn's Tzadik label outings. That says "adventurous," and "no boundaries." But in his piano trio outings milieu, the avant-garde buttons aren't pushed all that hard. His The New Standard (Rare Noise Records, 2014), a fine outing, fits well within the mainstream. So does his second Rare Noise outing, Loneliness Road, a deep exploration, with an edge, of the Great American song forms, drawing inspiration from Bob Dylan, The Band, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Bill Evans. Those songbook forms rooted in folk music seem especially important here, with Dylan and The Band sharing that foundation. But Saft's concept seems less raw, more expansive, including the grandeur of Charles Ives and Aaron Copland, Stephen Foster, leaned in a pared down, modern mode.

The three distinctive musical approaches of the trio team coalesce to weave a beautiful and cohesive tapestry, whether it's the sunny opener, "Ten Nights," or the portentous, time-standing-stillness of "Bookmarking."

Then there's Iggy Pop, showcased on three tunes. This trio format—and this particular trio—suits him. The firm but pliable piano trio backing showcases Pop's speak/singing baritone dialogues. "Don't Lose Yourself" sounds like a baton handoff from Leonard Cohen for the leader of the elder statesman, poet/songster category. "Loneliness Road" is sounds like a brooding Van Morrison song. "Everyday" is a tender love song from someone who has experienced deep heartache. Iggy Pop—who'd have known—exudes gravitas.

A superior piano trio outing with bonus of Iggy Pop's cool contributions.

Track Listing

Ten Nights; Little Harbor; Bookmaking; Don't Lose Yourself; Henbane; Pinkus; The Barrier; Nainsook; Loneliness Road; Unclouded Moon; Gates; Everyday.

Personnel

Jamie Saft: piano; Steve Swallow: bass; Bobby Previte: drums; Iggy Pop: vocals (4, 9, 12).

Album information

Title: Loneliness Road | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: RareNoiseRecords

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.