Trioism
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Paradox
SteepleChase
LeeAnn Ledgerwood believes that her life changed when, at age 11, she first heard a Bill Evans recording. She dedicates Paradox (SteepleChase SCCD 31497; 64:45), her fifth release as leader, to Evans. That gesture seems fitting: she has a full conception...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Know More
SteepleChase
The trio provides a haven for many of the music's creativity addicts, among whom we are sure to find Andy LaVerne. His latest work, Know More (SteepleChase SCCD 31493; 66:36), is by turns thoughtful, thunderous, sly, touching. LaVerne wrings all one can...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Eldar
D&D
Eldar (D&D DDT 2001; 58:38) is not strictly piano trio, since a few tracks are solo piano. But let's cut Eldar Djangirov some slack: he's just a kid, after all. That said, he's a pretty fine pianist for a 14-year-old. No, really. Granted, he has some growing...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Reminiscing
Delmark Records
There is a wonderful clarity to Reminiscing (Delmark DE-531; 59:22), from the Jodie Christian trio. Christian, a virtual institution in Chicago, has assembled a program of tunes that tie back to specific memories of his career and childhood. At times the...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Live
Dreambox Media
It doesn't sound as if there were too many in the audience when the Jim Ridl trio recorded Live (Dreambox DMJ-1055; 66:02). That's a shame, because those who came out two years ago heard a very hard-working trio deliver a satisfying performance. Ridl's style...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Summer Night
Naxos of America
Summer Night (Naxos Jazz 86071-2; 50:38) finds Sarah Jane Cion in very good company, with bassist Phil Palombi and this column's recurring drummer, Billy Hart. There is a formal elegance to Cion's playing that gives these performances an engaging smoothness...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Cole After Midnight
Columbia Jazz
Cole After Midnight (Columbia CK 69781: 65:23) finds the Marcus Roberts trio essaying music of Cole Porter and Nat Cole. The accent here is much more on "mood" than "move," with a concomitant emphasis on Nat Cole the singer, rather than his trio work-and...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Tiny Capers
Double-Time Jazz
Tiny Capers (Double Time DTRCD-180; 49:51), by the drummer-led Jon Hazilla trio, features pianist Bruce Barth and bassist John Lockwood. This is a deceptively amiable session. It all flows so smoothly, as Barth laces his solos with one subversive idea after...
January/February 2002 By Bill Bennett
Haunted Heart and Other Ballads
hatOLOGY
Three apprehensive reharmonizations of "My Favorite Things" are a moody thread running through Haunted Heart and Other Ballads (hatOLOGY 581; 65:55) by the Marc Copland trio. Against this backdrop, Copland goes on to play with the shadows, casting elating...
