Jazz trios come in all forms, creating a wide range of sounds and visions.
Pianist Raymond De Felitta goes uptown on this well dressed collection of Depression era classics. He leads two different trios, the first with bassist Mike Alvidrez and drummer Kreibich has the leader giving a rhumba to Kreibich’s classy high hat on “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” and bouncing to Alvidrez 
on a hip “Out Of Nowhere.” In a solo mood, his hands are soft and warm for the stride of “I’ve Got A Feeling.” Alex Budman plays tenor sax and clarinet to replace the bass on three tunes, sounding very foggy over piano rich and A-Train chords on “Drop Me Off In Harlem” while woody for a classy “Deep Purple” and nostalgic “Stars Fell On Alabama.” Dressed to the nines.
Loose and intuitive interpretations of jazz standards stand alongside originals on this trio album by drummer Jimmy Bennington, pianist Steve Cohn and bassist Ed Schuller. Of the standards, Schuller rambles on and plays the song lead on “Night and Day,” and lays down a rich line for a liquid “Body and Soul.” Chaos and yelling takes place on a quickie “That’s It” and Schuller bows to a mellow Cohn for “Nepal” before the team splatters on the title track. Lots of visceral guidance on this one.
A trio without piano takes place with drummer Ernesto Cervini holding things down for bassist Artie Roth and saxist Kelly Jefferson for eight originals and a pair of standards. Of the latter, “All Of You” has Cervini’s brushes keeping things hip for Jefferson’s breathy tenor, while “Sophisticated Lady” features Roth’s reverberating bass supporting Jefferson’s gasping sighs. Cervini and Roth get Spherical on the fun and kinetic “The Monks Of Oka” with Roth hitting a funk feel for tenor sax subtones on “Split Infinity.” Coltrane moods yearn with Jefferson’s soprano for “Kindling” and the Middle Eastern “Transient Space” has some contemplative bass bow and meditative percussion. Spacious skies.
On the other side of the universe, guitarist Satoro Nakagawa, drummer Tim Carman and bassist-keyboardist Yukiko Fujii share vocals and Hendrix licks on this hard hitting collection of originals. The guitars sear on “Bluebird” and chime like a Foxy Lady on “Woman.” Wailing strings and voices get earthy on “If I Die Tomorrow” and echoes have the wind cry Mary for “Talking To Someone.” Strats that strut.
Max Agnas plays both piano and synthesizer to team up with bassist Mauritz Agnas and drummer Sebastian Voegler. There are a lot of spacey synth moods that meld with piano as on “Prelude” and the percussively subtle “Jag Vill Kunna Dansa.” His piano touch can be Chopinesque as on the charming “Bob’s Lament” and warm for the lyrical “Maj.” The team is most happy while swinging n “Cowboy Jazz” while edgy on the tensile “Circle” and melancholic during “Langsamt.” Trio textures in tow.