Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Trio Linguae: Signals

10

Trio Linguae: Signals

By

Sign in to view read count
Trio Linguae: Signals
Signals introduces the snug and simpatico Trio Linguae ("lin-gwee") from western Canada whose unusual makeup (trumpet, guitar, piano) doesn't hinder it from painting a series of shapely and pleasing portraits in sound. Trumpeter Kevin Woods had been performing with his compatriots—pianist Miles Black, guitarist John Stowell—for more than a decade but never before on the same stage. Aligning them together, which was not Woods' original plan, proved to be a master stroke, as they entwine in unison like the proverbial hand in glove.

Nine of the album's eleven selections are original compositions: four by Woods, two by Black, one each by Bill Evans ("Peri's Scope"), Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Inutil Paisagem") and Wayne Shorter ("Virgo"). The remaining themes, from the Great American Songbook, are among the loveliest ever written: "I Hear a Rhapsody," which closes the session, and Harold Arlen's "My Shining Hour." Even in the face of that competition, the melodies by Woods and Black hold their ground, and Woods' buoyant "Big T's" even earns a well-deserved niche on the ample highlight reel. Woods plays trumpet, open or muted, and flugelhorn, awakening in most instances memories of the late great Chet Baker who is no doubt a direct precursor and perhaps a primal influence.

Stowell, who is listed as playing on every number, is prominent on some, almost inaudible on others, but always supportive and tasteful, while Black is an able soloist and accompanist in the image of the aforementioned Bill Evans and other masters such as Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron and George Cables, to name only three. If there is a misstep it is on "I Hear a Rhapsody," wherein the trio insist on dancing around the changes instead of allowing the exquisite melody to speak for itself. But that's a minor gaffe in an otherwise splendid sequence of charmers, and it does come at the very end. It's hardly enough to mar an impressive debut by three talented musicians who give rise, as their opening number asserts, to "No Regrets," nor should they have any in the afterglow of an opening performance that surely deserves an encore.

Track Listing

Few Regrets; Solo en Viento Sabe; Peri’s Scope; Signals; My Shining Hour; Since Last December; Big T’s; Inutil Paisagem; One for B.E.; Virgo; I Hear a Rhapsody.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Signals | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Origin Records

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.