Goldings, Bernstein, Stewart: Perpetual Pendulum

The latest session from the now venerable (30-year-old!) NY organ trio is likely to be as well received as their previous dozen

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Warm on the heels of their previous two albums Toy Tunes (Pirouet, 2018) and Ramshackle Serenade (Pirouet, 2014) Perpetual Pendulum is the latest release for this NYC-based organ, guitar and drums trio. The group came into being over 30 years ago and was initially captured on Larry Goldings’ Intimacy Of The Blues (Verve, 1991) with David “Fathead” Newman guesting. They then emerged as a trio proper with Goldings’ Light Blue (Minor Music, 1992). In all, they’ve recorded over a dozen albums together and this one is surely going to be as well-received as their back catalogue.

Whilst the trio might be regarded by some as greater than the sum of its parts it should be remembered that all three virtuoso protagonists have collaborated with an impressive array of legendary jazz names including Lonnie Smith, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Lou Donaldson, Lee Konitz and most regularly with John Scofield on some of his most lauded albums including Country For Old Men (Impulse!, 2016).

From the off Goldings’ deploys his classic Hammond B-3 tone on Wayne Shorter’s United with Stewart’s flailing drums propelling the proceedings and Bernstein contributing angular lines. Whilst the standards work well (e.g., the Shorter) the originals are occasionally even more alluring. That said, Gary Bartz’s freewheeling Libra, with its staccato hook and breezy tempo, shows this trio is as assuredly cohesive as it gets. 

One standout is Stewart’s F U Donald and aside of the title’s obvious message, it contains some powerful moments with its hypnotically memorable head and insistent rim shot-driven groove. Goldings’ languid ballad, Let’s Get Lots demonstrates both the organist’s prodigious technique and Bernstein’s meticulously crafted soloing. The guitarist also proves he can write good tunes too, with the bluesy Little Green Men and the title track, both of which offer excellent examples of his fluid playing.

Discography
United; Let’s Get Lots; Libra; Prelude; F U Donald; Come Rain Or Come Shine; Little Green Men; Reflections In D; Perpetual Pendulum; Lurkers; Django (65.01)
Larry Goldings (org); Peter Bernstein (elg); Bill Stewart (d). New York City, 15 & 16 July 2021.
Smoke Sessions Records SSR-2201