Joe Giglio Trio : 3 Spirits

For the past few years, postbop guitarist Giglio has been presiding over a regular Friday night series of duets at 107 West restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Aside from fellow guitarists like Jack Wilkins, Paul Bollenback and Vic Juris, his duet partners have also included violinist Rob Thomas and bassist Ron McClure. For this telepathic string-trio session, Giglio joins with both Thomas and McClure and the results are strictly swinging and first-rate.

Thomas, a brilliant improviser who is also a member of the String Trio of New York and the thunderous Mahavishnu Project, summons up sprightly Joe Venuti-esque charm on the opener, Giglio’s “107WEST.” Elsewhere, the violinist acquits himself with elegance and grace on the enduring standards “My Romance” and “The Nearness of You,” both of which feature Giglio’s affecting vocals, and he traverses the tricky heads of Charlie Parker’s (or is it Miles Davis’) “Donna Lee” and Lennie Tristano’s “317 E. 32nd” with relative ease in unison with Joe’s guitar. McClure, the savvy jazz vet with a list of sideman credentials going back to the early ’60s, provides unerring time and surging momentum throughout and gets off an impressive extended bass solo on Giglio’s swinging “Another Fall, Another Spring.” That tune also stands as a good vehicle for the guitarist’s accomplished chordal melody soloing style and bop-fueled single-note lines. Great playing by all the participants and a rare chemistry make this a highly recommended disc.

Originally Published May 1, 2007