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Affinity Trio

CLASSIC HARD-SWINGING JAZZ IN THE MIDWEST

Affinity Trio consists of Eric Jacobson on trumpet, Clay Schaub on bass, and Pamela York on piano. Individually, they have worked with some of the biggest names in the jazz world: Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Bruce Barth, Brian Lynch, Greg Tardy, Frank Morgan, etc. 

The trio has held a regular Monday night residency at the Mason Street Grill in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 2021. Performing without a drummer, Affinity Trio creates an intimate ambience with a strong rhythmic groove. Their repertoire includes standards from the Great American Songbook, original music, and bebop. 

Affinity Trio's debut recording, Hindsight, is now available on Origin Records.

Awards

REVIEWS OF HINDSIGHT

Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
You get more with less with the drummerless Affinity Trio consisting of Eric Jacobson/tp, Pamela York/p and Clay Schaub/b on this mix of boppers and originals. York and Schaub take turns supplying the feel, with bluesy beauty for Jacobson's sweet horn on "Open Windows" and bringing an easy peppy feel to Cedar Walton's "Hindsight". York is elegant a ...

Album Liner Notes (Scott Yanow)
Hindsight is the recording debut of Affinity Trio, an exciting straight-ahead jazz trio comprised of trumpeter Eric Jacobson, pianist Pamela York, and bassist Clay Schaub. "There is an intimacy that our group achieves by playing without drums," says the pianist. "Although we also love playing with drummers, we enjoy the space that we have in the tr ...

Jazz Sensibilities (Icrom Bigrad)
Trios are intimate, and magic will happen when you have one that is as in tune as the Affinity Trio. So, with that in mind, I invite you to sit back and pour yourself something sophisticated as we delve into the sonic tapestry of Affinity Trio's debut album Hindsight, released on October 20, 2023, under the illustrious Origin Records. The air is th ...

WDCB (Chicago) (Paul Abella)
It should come as no surprise that the Affinity Trio sounds as good as they do, considering their regular gig at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. The tightness and telepathic interplay heard throughout their debut album, Hindsight, only comes through playing together on a consistent basis. Trumpeter Eric Jacobson, bassist Clay Schaub and pianist Pam ...

Jazz Music Archives (Carmel DeSoto)
Gather around, class! Take a seat, maybe even recline a little. Today, we're not just talking theory or history; we're exploring the here and now of jazz with Affinity Trio's debut album "Hindsight." Let me put on my reviewer's hat—or should I say, my reviewer's shades? Let's dig into this. The Affinity Trio, comprised of Eric Jacobson on trum ... 

Gear

Steinway piano, Conn Constellation trumpet, Horst Grünert double bass.


Tags

"Jacobson, York, and Schaub are masters of sound, touch and feel. This outing showcases them in a drumless trio format which allows for all three of their gorgeous sounds to be heard with clarity. It's a swinging record that will keep you on the edge of your seat." 

-Dan Nimmer, pianist with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis

 

"I am so enjoying listening to the new trio project from my good friend Eric Jacobson! His fluent, clear-toned trumpet playing is complemented perfectly by the swinging piano of Pamela York and the firm bass playing of Clay Schaub. The cohesion and empathy that this trio has built up over a long period of playing together on a regular basis really shows in their treatments of the standards and jazz classics featured on this recording. Highly recommended!"  

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