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Trespass Trio: The Spirit Of Piteşti
ByMusically the dominant characteristic of the band's work might be termed a world weary sorrow which conveys passion (and compassion) through restraint and holding back. Two takes of "Sounds & Ruins," another of Küchen's heartfelt dirges, bookend the 36-minute program. In the first version the reedman on baritone saxophone contrasts the mournful melody against Strid's bursts of rattling drums producing an unsettling edge. Küchen only ceases when he has wrung every last ounce of feeling from the tune, freeing Zanussi to continue with a passage of Charlie Haden like gravitas. The closing rendition hews to the same pattern, but this time the swinging, almost syncopated, cadences create a more hopeful feel.
In between, the doleful title track set out by Küchen's soulful alto and Zanussi's cello-like bowing transmits a similar emotional charge. As does "In Tears" where the leader's baritone delicately etches a line of great beauty against subtle and sensitive accompaniment from Strid's conversational drums and Zanussi's spare singing twang. The only change of pace comes with "Fri Kokko (Free Retardo At The Koko Club)" where a gently kicking cymbal pulse combines with walking bass behind Küchen's querulous dissonant alto. A rolling drum solo leads to squalling saxophone/drum interaction interrupted by a series of zipping pizzicato bass breaks, before a sudden stop.
Once again the Trespass Trio proves itself the exquisite master of a narrow but powerfully affecting bandwidth. The only negative for this album is the restricted playing time.
Track Listing
Sounds & Ruins (Take 3); The Spirit Of Pitești; In Tears; Fri Kokko (Free Retardo At The Koko Club); Centers; Sounds & Ruins (Take 2).
Personnel
Martin Kuchen
saxophonePer Zanussi: double bass; Raymond Strid: drums, percussion; Martin Küchen: baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone
Album information
Title: The Spirit Of Piteşti | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Clean Feed Records