There was a time when it was considered high gauche, as well as highly cluttered, to have both a guitar and piano in the same small group. Basie being the exception, it rarely worked well in the past, but the past few years this sonic environment has been tried and a sort of détente has occurred. Three cases in point.
Trombonist and vocalist Todd Langadin goes for the polished shoes on this collection of standards with Pete Smith/g, David Berger/dr, Matt Ray/p and Jennifer Vincent/b. His warm tenor voice swings well with Smith on “Look Out for Love” and a peppy “Brazil” while he bounces with Ray on “Pennies From Heaven” and a methodically patient “I Concentrate on You.” A soulful hip hoping take of Stevie Wonders’ I Can’t Help It” provides a welcome change of pace. A Buble’ rival?
Drummer Tarun Balani brings together Sharik Hasau/p, Aditya Balani/g, Bruno Reberg/b and Suhail Yusuf/sarangi-voc for a mix of jazz and Central Asian themes. “Dark piano chords meld well with the guitar on “The Other Side” while thoughtful strings meld with dreamy chords on the gently pulsating “Pictures.” A wondrous journey on “Sacred World” has Hasau and Balani going back and forth with thick textures, while gentle waves of sound are ridden on “Arjuna” leading to a wondrous climax. Thrilling sounds!
Guitarist Fareed Haque does half trio with Billy Hart/dr and George Mraz-Doug Weiss/b, and half with a quartet of Rob Clearfield/p, Corey Healey/dr, John Tate/b and Salar Nader/perc. The trio work is exemplary and wondrous, with a take of Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge” filled with complex and intricate thrills and “Out of Nowhere” soft and acoustically subtle. Teamed with the piano band, “Giant Steps” flows with optimism, with Clearfield providing intriguing shadings, and “Flood in Franklin Park” gently driven and the medium tempo “Waiting For Red” thick with tones providing shadings and forestry. Excellent mix of groove and sophistication.