Piano trios in action…
Kris Davis gives a tribute to influential female pianists on this trio album with Robert Hurst/b and Johnathan Blake, saluting well know ivory ladies like Carla Bley, Geri Allen and Renee Rosnes as well as lesser appreciated ones like Angelica Sanchez and Sylvie Courvoisier. The moods change quite dramatically, with some free and frisky work demonstrated on “First Steps” while “ Little Footstep” has some nice funky modes. Deep and dark spaces are created on “Run the Gauntlet” and Hurst gurgles through “Subtones” while opening up the elegant “Beauty Beneath the Rubble”. Davis throbs through the rapid bopper “Knotweed” and floats through an airy “Dream State”. XX Ivories.
Pianist Andrew Wilcox gives tribute to the legendary Andrew Hill as his trio of Avery Sharpe/b and Yoron Israel/dr mix original with a couple standards. The team double times through a nimble read of “Old Devil Moon” and glistens during “Stella By Starlight”. The whimsical “Muir Woods” has Israel’s cymbals dancing along well, while Mr. Sharpe shines on ”Self-Doubts”. The three sizzle through “Onyx Warrior” and delve into dark and deep harmonics on the tribute of a title track. Sharp angles.
John Chin plays piano, keyboards and programs as he brings together Jeong Lim Yang/b and Jongkuk Kim/dr from a mix of originals and covers. Everyone gets a chance in the spotlight, with Chin’s piano serene on “Stardust” and ”Tarn”, Kim rumbling along on “Loom” and Yang luminously lonely for “ Promising World”. As a unit, the threesome gallops through “The Next Thing”, Chin gives a glowing intro to the lugubrious “Lush Life” and the team sparkles on a luminous “Midnight Sun”. Parts that do well alone and as part of a whole.