This drummer-led piano trio comes full circle on a strong program of tunes from a diverse band of composers, plus an original from the leader. The playing is compact, giving rein to improvisation that stays in the mood while adding enough tonality to render the proceedings interesting. Reuben Hoch pegs the rhythm into the groove, and when the time comes, he elevates it to ferment the mood. Pianist Don Friedman shapes and kindles the melody, presaging an agile mind that turns into unseen corners with a nice little twist. Ed Schuller has always been one for whom the bass is an eloquent voice, vibrant and resonant in its myriad hues.
About midway through, there's an interesting "Turnaround where the three engage in a conversation that darts between them. While Friedman supplies the main voice, Hoch's varied punctuation moves from emphatic accents to a flex of the cymbals, addding spice; Schuller's walking bass line completes the lure. Friedman brings back "Flamands, which he recorded on Waltz for Debby (441 Records, 2003). It works pleasantly enough, the tempo set by Hoch and Schuller, but then in comes Friedman, dwelling on the melody before he adds muscle and pumps it with potent vigor. There's a swinging line invested in "Beatrice, where the three work comfortably together, which makes this mainstream take a delight.
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.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.