Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Benny Lackner Trio: Pilgrim

183

Benny Lackner Trio: Pilgrim

By

Sign in to view read count
Benny Lackner Trio: Pilgrim
The rock-ish but very adult Pilgrim is a cautionary example of why detail is important in jazz. On a cursory listen, the Benny Lackner Trio sounds like a Bad Plus imitator: the rock influence is heavy, pianist Lackner shares Ethan Iverson's harmonic trajectory and heavy touch, and drummer Robert Perkins' sound is superficially like Dave King's bash-and-crash. What's more, the fifth track is titled "Brad Plus," a dead giveaway if ever there was one. That first impression is illusory. Deeper exploration reveals that Pilgrim, a contemplative project in many moods, is also quietly visionary.

The sensitivity with which the group imbues the music is immediately apparent. There are no fast pieces on Pilgrim, although the groove in "K.W.S. Nightmare" is pretty close. Instead, all are slow-to-medium in tempo, walking (not swinging) in rhythm, and reflective in temperament. They also have an edge of darkness creeping in, often represented by ominous minor chords. But it's for moodiness rather than disturbance, and it's held in abeyance by expressive but cerebral lines from the musicians. The title track and "Blind" are particularly stunning, the former's melody as insistent as a nagging memory and the latter's with both the consolation and pangs of some evening's bittersweet aftermath.

But subtlety marks the trio's approach. Bassist Derek Nievergelt is elusive throughout Pilgrim—no small trick for a three-man band. Nievergelt's playing depends on marvelous sustains and rubbery glissandi that are concentrated in his instrument's lowest register. It allows him to slip easily into Lackner's left-hand comps and Perkins' accents, but also provides a thick-if-invisible mortar for the structures of tracks like "Transkei" and "Beyond."

The other two musicians are equally subtle, if more noticeable. Lackner's similarities to Iverson remain undeniable, but so does his lyricism and genuine soul. His work on the gentle "Let It Die" draws equally on inspirational gospel and the 1970s singer-songwriters. Perkins plays accents that make him sound noisier than he actually is—if anything, he's the most sophisticated colorist in the group, with his hand percussion, shimmery cymbals, and hints of electronic rhythm (sometimes, as on the opening "Mowgla," he uses all three). In fact, all three players use electronics, one of their most idiosyncratic and effective components. Again these are employed with great discretion, as in the bleeping background on the title track and faint keyboard counterpoints on "I Never." With these little touches, the group shows they understand that they need only create an atmosphere, not a hurricane.

Their identification as a leaderless collective seems disingenuous; there is, after all, only one member mentioned in the band name. But the Benny Lackner Trio leaves no doubt that all three lend their visions to the crafting of the longing, wistful music on Pilgrim. If the group betrays the influence of the "It" piano trio of the 2000s, that's perhaps inevitable; still, it doesn't stop Pilgrim from being intensely individual or personal music. The emotional heft makes it a moving experience, but the painstakingly embedded details demonstrate its considerable art.

Track Listing

Mowgla; Pilgrim; Beyond; Let it Die; Brad Plus; Blind; I Never; Lonely, Lonely; K.W.S. Nightmare; Transkei; Emma's Song.

Personnel

Benny Lackner: piano, Wurlitzer, Nord Lead 2; Robert Perkins: drums, percussion, electronic beats; Derek Nievergelt: acoustic bass, fender bass, Wurlitzer, Nord lead 2.

Album information

Title: Pilgrim | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Stray Dog Music

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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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