These days, trios come in many shapes…
Caleb Wheeler Curtis plays the esoteric stritch and reed trumpet as well as “regular” trumpet with bassist noah Garabedian and drummer Vincent Sperrazza for a collection of originals. It’s hard to tell the difference between the reed instruments, but the mood gets free from on “Angular Saxon” and loose around Garabedian/s bow on “August In March”. The trumpet is in a s poky form on “No Signal” and the team sounds MIngusy for “ Sink and Swim” with things most 
lyrical on “Sam Cooke”. Spacey spaces.
Pianist Mike Jones brings together bassist Penn Jillette and legendary drummer Jeff H amilton for a mix of standards and blues in classy fashion. Jijllette is in rich form on “The Girl From Ipanema” and works around Jones’ strid on “What A Difference A Day Makes”. Hamilton’s brushes are deft on the sleek “Perdido” and th team struts through “Watch What Happens” and dig in for “Blues For Burns”. Jones strides right on a boggieing solo medley and has glistening sound on “’S 
Wonderful”. Vintage.
Dan Pitt plays electric guitar with Alex Fournier/b and Nick Fraser/dr on a collection of dark originals. There’s a nourish reflection to pieces like “Stages” with Pitt’s guitar gurgling on “Ghosts”. The team gets kinetc for “Fifteen Minutes and ominous on “Foreboding”. Founier gets some room to bow on “Tape Age” and the pleading “Part Two” withthings most gentle on “Fourteen Days”. Long shadows.
Mainstream guitarist Doug MacDonald forms a snazzy trio withMike Flick/b and Kendall Kay, showing l yricism on ballads like “Benedetto’s Theme” and digging into the deep, playing the Portuguese guitar on “Groove Blues”. His solo skills show rich ideas on “Eyow/Is This It” and he glides well over the samba “Tuned Out”. The trio has fun toying with different time signatures on “Three For Two” and swing the guts out of “Zoot and Pepper”. One of LA’s most reliable Herb Ellis-inspired boppers.
Pianist Michael Ragonee teams up with Luca Alemanno/b and Mark Ferber/dr for a mix of originals and standards, all cleverly arranged by the leader. The team digs deep into “Solar” Alemanno creating a rivulet, while drums and bass give a kick to “I”ll Be Seeing You”.Ragonese is pretty on the concert read of “In Attesa” and gives rich harmonies on “ La Piogga”, with the team dancing through the two parter “Tides of Tomorrow”. Strong traditionsl.