Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The John Bickerton Trio: Shadow Boxes
The John Bickerton Trio: Shadow Boxes
ByThat's not to say that this is soft or restrained music, but simply that when Bickerton heats up, his heat comes from the continuity of his lines, not necessarily from the dynamics of his sound. So on "Answers Not Asked," the opening track, the pianist works through a series of chords at a mid-but unfixed tempo, never reaching a conventional climax but building with his own logic. On "Meeting After Dark," the closing track, he tackles a few quieter motifs, working with the pedals and a steady prod from Bakr. Here he allows the phrases to unfold and the tempo and dynamics to pick up a bit more, all the while still quite skillfully limiting most of his activity to a relatively small area.
That makes this music, even at its most percussive, meditative and hypnotic. Fascinating music.
Track Listing
Answers Not Asked; Spirit World; Stilts & Pirouettes; Cortege; Shadow Boxes; Divining Rod; Aviary Breakout; Meeting After Dark.
Personnel
John Bickerton
pianoJohn Bickerton: piano; Matthew Heyner: bass; Rashid Bakr: drums.
Album information
Title: Shadow Boxes | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Leo Records
< Previous
Holiday Music '99
Comments
Tags
The John Bickerton Trio
CD/LP/Track Review
John Bickerton
Robert Spencer
Leo Records
United States
Shadow Boxes