The Spartan trio of pianist Carla Bley with long time cohorts Steve Swallow/b and Andy Sheppard/ts-ss come together for a three part “Andando El Tiemp as the major opus of their 5 song album. Sheppard’s breathy and gaspy tenor sighs through the stark “Sin Fin” while Swallow adds pungent pizzicatos. The dance “Potacion De Guaya” slides across the table with Bley’s ectomophic touch, while on “Camino Al Volver, the piano and bass sashay shoulder to shoulder with Sheppard’s shadowy and puffing tenor. Swallow’s bass does some wonderful kinetic work with Sheppard’s brooding lyricism on “ Saints Alive, while he takes take elliptical and dark steps down the staircase alongside Bley’s tangential piano and Sheppard’s shadowy soprano on “Naked Bridges/Diving Brides.” Dreamy.
ECM Records