Not all trios are created equal, or are of the piano/bass/drum variety. Here are some samples…
A mix of ambient atmospheres with improvisations are collected together by guitarist Will Sellenraad and drummer Eric McPherson and Rene Hart, who combines double bass with electronica. Hart’s sonic explorations are on half the tracks, mixing effects with Sellenbraad’s tensile strings on the cantering “Alter Ego,” adding to the funky blues of the nourish “Little El” and teaming with McPherson’s screeching cymbal during “Allegorical.” The drums ricochet for the post bop “Future” with the team most successful with Sellenraad’s #1 pencil tone on a creative take of Wayne Shorter’s “Deluge.” Lots of edgy effects contributed by all three to resemble little creatures in the night.
Jeremy Udden switches between soprano and alto sax on this gentle session with bassist Nicolas Moreaux and drummer John Betsch. Udden plays a large share of material by soprano sax legend Steve Lacy, but alternates horns for them. On alto, the team loosely swings on Lacy’s “Who Needs It’ while giving a rich solo intro before Betsch’s mysterious mallets enter on “Prayer,” while serene cymbals guide the soprano on “The Crust.” Moreaux is reflective with Udden’s soprano on “Folk Song” while soft brushwork makes “Lazy Afternoon” a reclining delight. Duke Ellington’s “Azure” has Udden’s straight sax float over Betsch’s snapping sticks, while the trio is most frisky on their own “One For Us.” Sublime sessions.