This imaginative German-American unit offers a refreshing perspective on the piano trio, its musicality and the attractively varied programming making for an engaging hour or so.
Like a few others of late (Leon Parker’s excellent recent issue on Epicure comes to mind), the trio frequently reinstitute a loose sixties-style rock shuffle in place of the triplet groove most often associated with piano-trio jazz. The most radical effect of this treatment is perhaps on Scrapple, where a rumbling left-hand riff acts as preface and interlude to the familiar bop line. (Note also the impressionist recasting of the middle-eight.) However, the standout in this category is the Marvin Gaye title track, in which Copland’s increasingly non-harmonic interjections deliciously subvert what would otherwise be a merely pleasant soul-jazz piece.
When the trio aren’t being obviously modern, they ply an equally satisfying line in luminous, Jarrett-like lyricism, with Young And Foolish halting and tearful, Come Rain gradually emerging from an impressionistic whole-tone mist. Altogether, a set which scores 8/10 for individuality in the piano trio stakes.
Discography
What’s Goin’ On; Prelude; Young And Foolish; Scrapple From The Apple; Bigfoot; In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning; Come Rain Or Come Shine; Take It To The Bridge; Photograph (62.50)
Dieter llg lb); Marc Copland (p); Jeff Hirshfield (d). Bonn, Germany, November 21, 1993.
(JazzlineJL 11138-2)
