ARILD ANDERSEN / PAOLO VINACCIA / TOMMY SMITH - In-House Science
ECM 671 6897
Arild Andersen: double bass; Paolo Vinaccia: drums; Tommy Smith: tenor saxophone.
Recorded September 26th 2016 at Jazzfreunde Bad Ischl (PKS Villa Rothstein), Austria
The Pythagorus Kepler System (KPS) Organization has a goal of studying natural energy. While this goal is hinted at in the twin pieces ‘In –house’ (track 6) and ‘Science’ (track 2) which form the album’s title, it is more apparent in the overall performance of this tremendous trio and their ability to harness energy from themselves and their audience in this highly compelling live performance.
This is a set of beautifully constructed tunes by Andersen. The opening track, ‘Mira’, was the title track of the trio’s 2014 studio album. Here, it begins with the beguiling bass solo familiar from the studio session, and Smith works a variety of tonal patterns into his solo, with Vinaccia creating a dense and rich swathe of percussion effects across these. This is followed by ‘Science’ which begins innocuously enough with a strummed bass and drum, and then bursts into a galloping bass line and swirling sax and drum attack. The piece builds continuously , swerving between different tempos and pulling the listener along, sometimes working a simple riff on either sax or bass and sometimes dodging into unexpected but apposite corners. The live setting certainly adds vim to the playing. Just as you’ve got used to the player’s mastery of their instruments, ‘North of the North Wind’ (track 4) begins with a startling remixing of sax and cymbal sounds, with arco bass and a whirl of electronic effects that resolve into a deeply moving saxophone extemporization. Given Smith's current day job, as leader of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, it must be quite good to be able to kick off his shoes and find that he's still able to blow as hot as this.
Each player is so much at the top of his game, that each note, each phrase is a lesson in virtuosity. Andersen’s deep, rich melodious bass is challenged and supported by Smith’s rambunctious hard bop phrasing and the eager clatter of Vinaccia’s drum kit. If this makes it sound like a full-on experience (which it often is), there are other elements where the mix of electronics or a softer palette on sax and bass, and the intelligently varied drumming create quite different feelings in the listener. As a trio, each player is able to switch between solo and support roles, almost in the same bar and this stepping forward into the spotlight and back to support their fellow players is so seamless and spontaneous that it can be easy to miss the complexity in the compositions that give the space for this to occur. Each of the pieces demonstrates an awareness of jazz history but also point out the path that future generations will be taking.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
ECM 671 6897
Arild Andersen: double bass; Paolo Vinaccia: drums; Tommy Smith: tenor saxophone.
Recorded September 26th 2016 at Jazzfreunde Bad Ischl (PKS Villa Rothstein), Austria
The Pythagorus Kepler System (KPS) Organization has a goal of studying natural energy. While this goal is hinted at in the twin pieces ‘In –house’ (track 6) and ‘Science’ (track 2) which form the album’s title, it is more apparent in the overall performance of this tremendous trio and their ability to harness energy from themselves and their audience in this highly compelling live performance.
This is a set of beautifully constructed tunes by Andersen. The opening track, ‘Mira’, was the title track of the trio’s 2014 studio album. Here, it begins with the beguiling bass solo familiar from the studio session, and Smith works a variety of tonal patterns into his solo, with Vinaccia creating a dense and rich swathe of percussion effects across these. This is followed by ‘Science’ which begins innocuously enough with a strummed bass and drum, and then bursts into a galloping bass line and swirling sax and drum attack. The piece builds continuously , swerving between different tempos and pulling the listener along, sometimes working a simple riff on either sax or bass and sometimes dodging into unexpected but apposite corners. The live setting certainly adds vim to the playing. Just as you’ve got used to the player’s mastery of their instruments, ‘North of the North Wind’ (track 4) begins with a startling remixing of sax and cymbal sounds, with arco bass and a whirl of electronic effects that resolve into a deeply moving saxophone extemporization. Given Smith's current day job, as leader of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, it must be quite good to be able to kick off his shoes and find that he's still able to blow as hot as this.
Each player is so much at the top of his game, that each note, each phrase is a lesson in virtuosity. Andersen’s deep, rich melodious bass is challenged and supported by Smith’s rambunctious hard bop phrasing and the eager clatter of Vinaccia’s drum kit. If this makes it sound like a full-on experience (which it often is), there are other elements where the mix of electronics or a softer palette on sax and bass, and the intelligently varied drumming create quite different feelings in the listener. As a trio, each player is able to switch between solo and support roles, almost in the same bar and this stepping forward into the spotlight and back to support their fellow players is so seamless and spontaneous that it can be easy to miss the complexity in the compositions that give the space for this to occur. Each of the pieces demonstrates an awareness of jazz history but also point out the path that future generations will be taking.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
