December 2007

Benny Lackner Trio
Pilgrim
Stray Dog

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

By now, fans of modern jazz have become accustomed to hearing intelligent pop songs by the likes of Radiohead or Björk transformed into moody jazz meditations. The Benny Lackner Trio heads in the opposite direction on this disc, chilling out with an agreeable set of tunes that wouldn’t sound out of place on any pop hipster’s iPod. Pianist Lackner is laidback and lyrical, spinning simple tales over Robert Perkins’ airily funky drumbeats and the molasses-thick bass lines of Derek Nievergelt. Tastefully positioned electronics complete the sound.