Swinging in threes…
Sneaking around the COVID lockdown, Alex Collins/p, Ryan Berg/b and Karl Latham/dr perform a “live” gig in New York’s Firefly Studios, relying on standards and giving some sounds reminiscent of vintage Bill Evans tones.
Collins has a pretty touch, teaming well with Berg’s flexible LaFaro-ish bass work on “Stella By Starlight” and soloing gorgeously after a warm piano intro on “Polka Dots and Moonbeams”. Latham provides soft sticks with busy work under the current on a swirling “Alone Together” and digs in with Berg on an assertive “Alone Together”. The interplay is conversant and cohesive, making music that fights against social distancing.
Marc Cary leads a trio of Diego Joaquin Ramirez/dr and Dan Chmielinski as he plays piano and keyboards on his twelve compositions. He shows a spaciousness akin to Ahmad Jamal with Chmielinski’s slinky bass on “And It’s Supposed To Be Love” while he gets funky with Ramirez on the souful “Equiibrium”. The team is kinetic and bouncy on the fun “It’s Tricky” and reverent on the spiritual “God Is Love” with Cary’s fingers flowing like a wind through a candle. Cary gives a mix of Debussy and Garner on the baroque and fluffy “Learning How to Listen”.
On keyboards, the team gives a full fisted charge on “Phase 2”, adding some effects to the disco ball on the R&B styled “Listen Still”. Concise and clear ideas.