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FLY

In the era of individual “star” instrumentalists, the idea of a truly collective trio can be a difficult concept to fathom. Yet collectivity is what the FLY trio strives for; and collectivity is what they so unabashedly and unquestionably achieve. Ballard, Grenadier and Turner represent three rather distinct musical personalities — simultaneously complimentary and contrasting — who have created a cohesive unit that expresses each part while creating an uniquely realized whole. In other words, they celebrate the group, without sacrificing the individual. “FLY is progressively bringing together many musical elements, traditions, histories and mysteries,” says Turner. “ Multiplicity is presented under an unassuming hat. Meaning, we are working toward saying it all without saying it all, expressing complexity by simplicity. Musically speaking, we are creating songs that can be heard on a number of levels and from a variety of different viewpoints.” Although, drummer Jeff Ballard, bassist Larry Grenadier and tenor saxophonist Mark Turner have individually charted very distinct and highly successful musical careers — one, both or all have graced the performances and recordings of Chick Corea, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Pat Metheny, Charles Lloyd, to name just a few — the formation of the trio seems, in retrospect almost inevitable. FLY needed to happen. The trio can actually trace its origins back to Grenadier and Ballard’s teenage years in northern California. The two learned music together and often played gigs before they both migrated to the East coast in 1990. It was there the two met Turner and soon began to keep close company. They bonded, early on, both personally and professionally. However, it wasn’t until several years later that they “officially” came together as a trio. The occasion was a Chick Corea recording project called Originations, a collective record where each member of the Origins band contributed his own compositions. “I had been doing so many gigs with full ensembles, I wanted to do a trio date,” says Ballard. “So I asked Larry and Mark if they’d play one of the first songs I ever wrote, (Child’s Play)”. The chemistry was definitely there, so they decided to experiment further with the trio format, booking a few gigs here and there in New York City and then for a more extended tour in Italy. The three liked what they heard — their connection on and off stage was obvious — and as a result, FLY was born.

“Jeff and I had been so involved in other people’s music for so long, it was prime time for us to try and get out and do our own thing,” says Grenadier. “After doing some live gigs together as a trio, the timing just felt right. We could call our own set instead of playing someone else’s personality. There’s nothing wrong with that, but we wanted the opportunity to shape our own visions and come up with something special that truly represents our own personalities.” Although each musician comes with his own unique ideas and compositions, the process and end result is often very collaborative. The creation of “Fly Mr. Freakjar” is a case in point. Although originally penned by Ballard, the tune went through many permutations before it reached it final state. Ballard brought in the basic composition, and he and Turner began to work on it. “I've had this ‘pet’ groove for many years, which is fun to play because of the interaction between the hands,” says Ballard. “I had a the beginnings of a melody, but I was stuck. Mark was at the house one day. We sat down at the piano, and he helped to shape the melody by offering different bass and melody notes, basically freeing me up from clinging to what I had written down. That opened up a world of possibilities.” Once the pair finished, Ballard took the piece and gave it a middle section, and then passed it on to Grenadier who in turn added a third part: a series of bass lines based on the harmonies from the beginning portion of the song. Turner put on the finishing touches by adding melodies to those bass lines. If you listen carefully, you can hear in the melodies impressions from other tunes in the band's repertoire. “Fly Mr. Freakjar” is a showcase for how the trio interacts. Instead of bop-like round-robin soloing, the three collectively respond to the composition, giving each member equal say in the proceedings. “Sometimes it’s the saxophone carrying the melody,” says Turner. “Other times it’s the bass or the drums. Most trios with a horn revolve around a lot of blowing and that often overrides the compositions themselves. We wanted to avoid that. We wanted to make the band sound bigger, so we spread out the frontline duties among all three of us.” He adds, “Besides, that’s just the way we relate to each other when we play.” And as for the band name? Turner says that it's a perfect fit, especially in light of the piece Fly Mr. Freakjar. He notes, "At first we were going to call ourselves that, but we all wanted something shorter. So, why not FLY? It sounded good and it can have many meanings. The first thing I thought of was that street-talk phrase, that's fly, which means, that's cool. Then there's fly, as in soaring into the heights. That's what our music is like. Same with the insect fly that's jabbing and bobbing. There are a many definitions attached to the word “fly” that fit us." He pauses and then adds, "Plus, just like our music, FLY has a little bit of mystery attached to it." FLY is a working trio in every sense of the word. And the first tangible result of their musical experimentation was the their eponymously titled debut CD from 2004. A recording that both solidified their vision, as well as pushing them—upon its completion—to take their ideas even further in live performances. The recording, which appeared on many end of the year top ten lists and garnered much critical acclaim, provided them the opportunity to go on the road and further hone their musical craft. With a deep love for the history of jazz, FLY fosters an all-inclusive approach to music. FLY continues to develop its compositional techniques by exploring ways to expand the tonal palette; playing with the potentialities of form and two voices (melody and figured bass). Or, as Ballard so clearly expresses, “Everyone embraces each other’s music. We all offer our input. We put the music out there and each of us is free to grab whatever we want. We want to create music that is basic, raw, and immediate.” So with tours both behind and ahead of them, FLY is preparing music for their sophomore release that will be recorded in 2007. New songs for this project include Turner’s multi- sectioned “Super Sister” and Grenadier’s “Transfigured”, both of which explore extended form, and Ballard’s odd-metered funky “Benj”. A concentration, a reduction, a celebration of the pure elements; this trio plays the deepest kind of modern jazz with a kind of skeletal tracery, removing all the thick harmony and bringing it down to two voices and a beat. Have you heard music like this before?

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Fly Trio al Parco della Musica di Roma

by Mario Calvitti
May 1, 2018

Fly Parco della Musica Roma 22.01.2018 Originariamente nato nel 2000 come Jeff Ballard Trio e successivamente diventato Fly, il trio costituito da Mark Turner ai sassofoni, Jeff Ballard alla batteria e Larry Grenadier al contrabbasso ha realizzato solo tre album in tutti questi anni, a cominciare dall'omonimo Fly su Savoy nel 2004 per approdare in seguito alla ECM con la quale ha pubblicato Sky & Country nel 2009 e Year of the Snake nel ...

In Pictures

Fly Trio At Blue Note In Milan

by Roberto Cifarelli
March 29, 2018

Photos of the Fly Trio concert held at the Blue Note in Milan in January 2018, featuring Mark Turner on saxophone, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drums, with special guest Enrico Pieranunzi on piano. A meeting of the great American jazz with the Italian piano poet. ...

Album Review

Fly: Year of the Snake

Read "Year of the Snake" reviewed by Mark F. Turner

by Mark F. Turner
June 29, 2012

While there are numerous jazz trios, few leave a lasting impression. This is not the case for Fly, consisting of younger but fully established jazz artists-- saxophonist extraordinaire Mark Turner and his equally talented cohorts, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. At just over ten minutes, the episodic “Kingston," from the trio's sophomore ECM release, Year of the Snake , encapsulates rousing composition and exhilarating improvisation. What begins tentatively, with inquisitive probing--elongated unison lines and gentle ...

Extended Analysis

Year of the Snake

by John Kelman
June 6, 2012

When a group of musicians works together more often in extracurricular configurations with other leaders, what do they do when they come together for their own project? In the case of saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard-- who, individually and collectively, have worked with everyone from pianist Brad Mehldau and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel to trumpeter Enrico Rava-- it's Fly, the trio that released its self-titled debut on Savoy Jazz in 2004, making the jump to ECM ...

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Album Review

Fly: Sky & Country

Read "Sky & Country" reviewed by Jeff Dayton-Johnson

by Jeff Dayton-Johnson
June 2, 2009

The near-unanimous acclaim that has greeted Fly's sophomore effort (and ECM debut) tends to see the trio as a second coming of the legendary Bill Evans Trio that recorded the classic Waltz for Debby and Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside, 1961). That's the way people are talking about the record, anyway.The record doesn't sound like the Evans trio, nor is there any good reason why it should sound like a record almost fifty years old. The similarity ...

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Album Review

Fly: Sky & Country

Read "Sky & Country" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
May 19, 2009

Mark Turner, Jeff Ballard and Larry Grenadier first played together in 2000 as the Jeff Ballard Trio. Since then they have performed in different groups. The long association has helped establish immediacy between them, a reading of the minds that translates into absorbing music.

All three have contributed compositions to Sky & Country, the second release by their collaborative group Fly. The music has impeccable character in its ability to evolve and break open into some majestic improvisation. ...

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Album Review

Fly: Sky & Country

Read "Sky & Country" reviewed by Jeff Stockton

by Jeff Stockton
May 16, 2009

15 years ago Mark Turner was among a trio of young tenors who were poised to have a lasting impact on jazz. However, having not had Joshua Redman's pedigree or James Carter's flair for self-promotion, Turner's major-label output came and went without generating the attention a musician of his caliber deserved. Today he is a member of Fly, a cooperative trio representing the best a sax-bass-drums lineup--featuring Brad Mehldau's rhythm section--has to offer. Bassist Larry Grenadier has ...

Recording

Tony Adamo's 'U Gotta B Fly' Featured On All About Jazz

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
June 23, 2021

The Shelf Life Of A Song On All About Jazz | Top Tracks 2021 The song, “U Gotta B Fly" was a cut from Tony Adamo And The New York Crew CD released March 12, 2015. Man, that's like over six years ago. Jazz radio and beyond gave “U Gotta B Fly" many spins and continues to spin other songs from that same CD. Adamo posted “U Gotta B Fly" at All About Jazz on April 25, 2021. To date, ...
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Recording

Fly Away Butterfly, New Album by Carol Albert

Source: Carol Albert
July 7, 2017

Reviewed by Kabir Sehgal, New York Times bestselling author and Multi-Grammy Award winning producer Every so often, an artist comes along that makes you reimagine the possibilities of music. With Fly Away Butterfly  Album, Carol Albert delivers a seminal and sizzling contribution to the artistic sphere, blending lively melodies with thoughtful and refined arrangements. Every song presents not just different sounds but soundscapes in which Carol invites us to inhabit and explore. But this album is also one of healing, ...
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Recording

Slovak Bass Legend Juraj Griglak Soars On New Album "Time To Fly"

Source: Eric Taylor
February 20, 2015

Living legends have a reputation to live up to, but Slovak bass icon Juraj Griglak certainly accomplishes that on his latest album, Time to Fly. Renowned for his bass wizardry, especially his ability to weave through various musical styles such as jazz, funk, classical, and folk, Griglak never ceases to impress on this release. Those oblivious to the specifics of Griglak’s technical prowess will be reeled in by his invigorating and mesmerizing performances. The title track leaps from a whisper ...
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Performance / Tour

Come Fly With Me: The Sammy Cahn Centennial Concert Starring Frank Sinatra, Jr., Steve Tyrell And The New Jersey Symphony Chamber Orchestra

Source: Josh Balber
November 13, 2013

Sammy Cahn, the lyricist whose contributions to America’s musical heritage include such beloved standards as “Love and Marriage,” “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” “Come Fly with Me,” “Time After Time,” “Three Coins in the Fountain” and “I’ll Walk Alone.” will be celebrated in a swinging concert on Sunday, November 24 at 3:00pm in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall. Starring Frank Sinatra, Jr., Steve Tyrell and the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the performance, titled Come Fly with Me: ...
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Recording

Jazz And Bluegrass: The Rosenthals, Father-son Duo, To Release Cd Collaboration "fly Away"

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
April 26, 2013

Trumpeter/composer Daniel Rosenthal grew up playing folk music in the family band led by his father, acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and bluegrass string player Phil Rosenthal, but he didn’t follow in his dad’s footsteps. Instead, he poured his creative energy into jazz, becoming a key member of Boston’s storied Either/Orchestra and leading his own forward-thinking quintet. But The Rosenthals’ lifelong musical ties have recently asserted themselves, and on their first recording collaboration, Fly Away, father and son find plenty of common ...
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Performance / Tour

Fly 2010 Tour Dates - Just Announced!

Source: Two for the Show Media
December 15, 2009

FLY - January Tour Dates 2010 Fly Trio is Mark Turner Larry Grenadier Jeff Ballard JANUARY 13: The Regatta Bar, Cambridge, MA JANUARY 15: Detroit Institute of the Arts, Detroit, MI JANUARY 16: Dazzle Jazz Club, Denver, CO JANUARY 17: Dazzle Jazz Club, Denver, CO JANUARY 18: DalyJazz, Missoula, MT JANUARY 19: DalyJazz, Missoula, MT JANUARY ...
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Contest

Announcing the Winners of the "Fly - Sky & Country" Giveaway!

Source: All About Jazz
July 1, 2009

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Contest

Enter the ECM Records "FLY - Sky & Country" Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz
May 31, 2009

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the ECM Records “FLY - Sky & Country“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on June 28th. Click here to enter the contest

(Following FLY at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at ECM Records

About FLY and Sky & Country Sky & Country is the ECM debut for FLY, a leaderless collective comprised of ...
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Radio

The Jazz Session #53: Fly

Source: All About Jazz
April 17, 2009

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Performance / Tour

A Trio Turns Back to Making Jazz, Not Firewood

Source: Michael Ricci
April 10, 2009

The group Fly, which is playing at the Jazz Standard this weekend: Jeff Ballard and Larry Grenadier were in Europe last fall, on tour with the Brad Mehldau Trio, when they got the horrific news.

Mark Turner, their partner in the dynamic post-bop band Fly, had sliced through two fingers of his left hand with a power saw while cutting firewood, severing nerves and tendons. Though typically low-key about his injury at the time I had an accident, he wrote ...
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