Ron Brendle Trio: Photograph

Photograph consists of seven compositions by Frank Kimbrough and Ornette Coleman, with one tune by Brendle. Kimbrough, who has a lengthy recording history as leader and sideman, is known as a player who is comfortable with both mainstream and outside jazz. The presentation of alternate compositions by Kimbrough and Coleman offers an interesting contrast. On "Affirmation" and "Southern Lights" the pianist is firmly engaged in modal, introspective trio jazz, while "Centering" has a bit of a Monkish influence.

On the other hand, Coleman's "Comme Il Faut" and the lengthy "Broken Shadows" present a more fragmented melody. On the latter tune, Kimbrough's playing evolves into a Paul Bley-like piano solo over the course of the eleven-minute track. Although Ron Brendle reports that the music of Paul Bley and Ornette Coleman were the chief inspirations for this album, most of the flavor of Photograph is squarely in Bill Evans territory.

It is also obvious that these three musicians have a longstanding musical relationship and a shared intuition. Ron Brendle gets several opportunities for solos and otherwise anchors the trio with a steady pulse.