Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ken Hatfield Trio: The Surrealist Table

Ken Hatfield Trio: The Surrealist Table

By Dr. Judith Schlesinger
February 25, 2004
View read count

I'm a sucker for the sound of a classical guitar in jazz; I'll admit that going in. But within that sound, there are many different styles—some players do their best work in a solo context, while others shine brightest in Brazilian settings. Ken Hatfield is an all-around artist whose compositions are varied as well, as demonstrated in this collection of ten. There are funky, bluesy tunes ("Most Every Day" and the second-line "Funkissimo"), the mischievous ("Ariadne's Thread" and the title track) the churning ("The Chimera"), the gently swaying ("A Demain") and the poignant ("Berceuse," "Iphigeneia"). On the bossa "Castalia," Hatfield recalls Charlie Byrd, but without the sharper edges of Byrd's touch.

What these tunes have in common is strong and memorable melodies; there's also a directness about Hatfield's playing that conveys great warmth. He's recruited the ideal support in drummer Jeff Hirshfield—whose subtlety and brushwork are rarely matched—and bassist Hans Glawischnig, whose arco work is terrific (especially on "Berceuse") and whose thoughtful solos are not the kind people talk through when seeing a trio live.

In fact, this is an exceptional trio, and it's a thoroughly enjoyable CD. It's Hatfield's fifth on Arthur Circle Music, which is reason enough to search out the others.

Track Listing

The Chimera, A Demain, Iphigeneia, Mixed Motion, The Surrealist Table, Castalia, Berceuse, Most Every Day, Ariadne's Thread, Funkissimo

Personnel

Ken Hatfield

guitar

Ken Hatfield (guitar, composer), Jeff Hirshfield (drums), Hans Glawischnig (bass)

Album information

Title: The Surrealist Table | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Arthur Circle Music

About Ken Hatfield

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Soul Comes Home
< Previous

Live at the Nuyorican Caf
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.