The team of Bley/p, Sheppard/sax and Swallow/b have been in a variety of combinations and permutations for decades, creating some of the most enjoyable music to the ears. Here, they revisit some familiar turf in a fresh milieu.
The interplay and empathy here is marvelous. Swallow’s delicate and high toned bass woos you into “Utviklingssang” as Bley’s caressed keys and Sheppard’s peaceful tenor roll in like a morning mist. The spacious “Vashtar” features Sheppard’s sweet soprano, while Swallow and Bley provide fragrant framework. A bit of a bounce occurs during “Wildlife” and “The Girl Who Cried Champagne” gets a bit playful,but what draws you in here is the expert use of space, almost like a tone color, to which these three artists use their sounds to make it a fourth partner. Wonderful impressions of sound.
ECM Records
www.ecmrecords.com