Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email

2013 May 01 • Wednesday

2013 is turning out to be a great year for new records. Ellery Eskelin's trio with Gary Versace and Gerald Cleaver has a new one out, and it's superb. This group, which plays standards but finds their way to the tunes through improvisation and doesn't use set lists, has logged a lot of hours performing since their first CD and this second album benefits from that.

It begins with an atmospheric take on "Midnight Sun", with Versace's Hammond creating textures alternatingly appropriate to cathedrals and space ships. Cleaver's playing is extremely minimal, while Eskelin is the model of inventive and tasteful improvisatory exploration of a tune.

When the trio find "Just One of Those Things", they really swing in a classic way, and this rhythmic foundation highlights the individual expressions of each player. Nobody is falling back on the expected here; each player sounds like he's trying to construct something with integrity and genuine feeling.

Monk's tunes provide plenty of opportunities for individuality and noncomformity, so it's no surprise to find that "We See" is performed here in a rolling, roiling, unpredictable manner. As with all the tunes on this record, though, the tune itself is always honored. These musicians aren't using these pieces as an excuse to blow or as a departure point for free playing. The impression is always that they are deeply respectful of the music and feel privileged to play it. As they improvise their way to the melody, it seems almost as if they're making an offering to something they love.

This is followed by "My Ideal" and "After You've Gone", two tunes I'm not familiar with. The high standards of the preceding tracks are maintained. There isn't a wasted second on this CD.

And then the record closes with "Flamingo". I actually love this piece but I wasn't expecting to be surprised by anybody's performance of it. As played by this trio, however, it's thrilling. Like "Midnight Sun", it begins with saxophone and organ alone. When Cleaver comes in, the group settles into a deep, relaxed groove, and Eskelin's playing and tone, perfectly supported by Versace, shine brilliantly.

This is not just a record worth buying, it's a record worth listening to on a real stereo, not compressed. You can get it here!