VIJAY IYER TRIO – Break Stuff
ECM 470 8937
Vijay Iyer (piano); Stephan Crump (double bass); Marcus Gilmore (drums)
Recorded June 2014
This is simply an extraordinary trio album from Iyer that just goes to prove that such a longstanding tried and tested format of piano, bass and drums can still take on new forms both in the sounds conjured from the instruments, and the imagination of the musicians to deliver music that is fresh and invigorating.
The trio in question have been together for eleven years, and bring forth influences from far and wide, incorporating Ellington, Ahmad Jamal, Jimmy Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys to the rhythm sections of Bird, Miles Davis and James Brown. Important also to remember that the three participants are also of the generation brought up on electronic music which they are also able to bring to the table in this all acoustic setting. In his composition ‘Hood’ Iyer even makes a tribute to Detroit minimal techno producer and DJ, Robert Hood.
The ability to forge such strong music has been hard won, and Vijay says that that the material on the album has been carefully worked on over a three year period. Original compositions from the pianist rub shoulders with three standards from giants of the music who have had a profound influence on Iyer, from the tender reading of Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Blood Count’, to the quirky Monk tune ‘Work’ and a tremendous run through Trane’s ‘Countdown’ that is beholden to no one.
Iyer’s compositions range from the gentle propulsion of ‘Chorale’ and drivingly tumultuous ‘Diptych’ to the flowing lyricism of ‘Taking Flight’; with the title track, ‘Break Stuff’ works through the contrast of rhythmic repetition and variation. In a creatively varied programme, Vijay feature three ‘bird pieces’ from his Open City project that is loosely based on a novel by Teju Cole, with the abstract theme of ‘Geese’ once again contrasting sharply with the beautiful and serene ‘Wrens’ which closes this beguiling set.
Break Stuff is the third release on ECM from Vijay Iyer following on from the chamber music heard on Mutations, and the film/music project Rahde, Radhe: Rites of the Holi, and on the strength of the evidence so far, future releases are eagerly anticipated.
ECM 470 8937
Vijay Iyer (piano); Stephan Crump (double bass); Marcus Gilmore (drums)
Recorded June 2014
This is simply an extraordinary trio album from Iyer that just goes to prove that such a longstanding tried and tested format of piano, bass and drums can still take on new forms both in the sounds conjured from the instruments, and the imagination of the musicians to deliver music that is fresh and invigorating.
The trio in question have been together for eleven years, and bring forth influences from far and wide, incorporating Ellington, Ahmad Jamal, Jimmy Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys to the rhythm sections of Bird, Miles Davis and James Brown. Important also to remember that the three participants are also of the generation brought up on electronic music which they are also able to bring to the table in this all acoustic setting. In his composition ‘Hood’ Iyer even makes a tribute to Detroit minimal techno producer and DJ, Robert Hood.
The ability to forge such strong music has been hard won, and Vijay says that that the material on the album has been carefully worked on over a three year period. Original compositions from the pianist rub shoulders with three standards from giants of the music who have had a profound influence on Iyer, from the tender reading of Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Blood Count’, to the quirky Monk tune ‘Work’ and a tremendous run through Trane’s ‘Countdown’ that is beholden to no one.
Iyer’s compositions range from the gentle propulsion of ‘Chorale’ and drivingly tumultuous ‘Diptych’ to the flowing lyricism of ‘Taking Flight’; with the title track, ‘Break Stuff’ works through the contrast of rhythmic repetition and variation. In a creatively varied programme, Vijay feature three ‘bird pieces’ from his Open City project that is loosely based on a novel by Teju Cole, with the abstract theme of ‘Geese’ once again contrasting sharply with the beautiful and serene ‘Wrens’ which closes this beguiling set.
Break Stuff is the third release on ECM from Vijay Iyer following on from the chamber music heard on Mutations, and the film/music project Rahde, Radhe: Rites of the Holi, and on the strength of the evidence so far, future releases are eagerly anticipated.
|
Reviewed by Nick Lea
|
|
