CHES SMITH - The Bell
ECM 475 2954
Ches Smith (drums, vibraphone, timpani); Craig Taborn (piano); Mat Maneri (viola)
Recorded June 2015
Percussionist Ches Smith is becoming an ever increasing presence on ECM with three recordings under his belt with Tim Berne's Snakeoil, and appearing alongside Mat Maneri on singer-songwriter Robin Williamson's album Trusting In The Rising Light. If none of the above strike one as a regular drummers gig then you would be correct in your assumption, as Smith says that he has "always been attracted to the examples in each genre that defy it", and does no less on his own leader debut for the imprint.
First glance at the personnel and the immediate conclusion is that this is a free improvising trio, and that is indeed how the trio presented their first public performance, however on this assumption you would only be half correct. What turned out to be the trio's inaugural outing was never intended to be anything other than a one off gig, and "an opportunity to do something different". The resulting concert revealed so much potential and musical empathy between the participants that Smith not only decided to make the unit a permanent fixture, but also begin developing the overall concept of the trio by writing for the band. In doing so, the percussionist has broadened the scope of the music by imposing structure and form in to the mix, and in a somewhat contradictory manner this seems to have had the effect of freeing up the improvisations with no sense of the trio being confined or restrained by the written material.
It is interesting when listening to the album to try to hear how the trio are guided by any written instruction or notation, and Smith has cleverly varied how he has approached the composed material, either by rigorous editing of the musical score immediately prior to recording as on 'Isn't It Over?', or leaving things wide open on 'Barely Intervallic'. The title track is a fascinating case in question, as it clearly has a predetermined structure with the musicians moving between three tonal areas, and contrasts once again with the melodic and groove based 'It's Always Winter'or the gently propulsive 'Wacken Open Air'.
The highlight of the set comes for me in the calm yet melancholy 'I'll See You On The Dark Side Of The Earth', ten minutes of music that perhaps sums up this remarkable band, and pointing in a direction that Ches Smith will hopefully wish to pursue further.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 475 2954
Ches Smith (drums, vibraphone, timpani); Craig Taborn (piano); Mat Maneri (viola)
Recorded June 2015
Percussionist Ches Smith is becoming an ever increasing presence on ECM with three recordings under his belt with Tim Berne's Snakeoil, and appearing alongside Mat Maneri on singer-songwriter Robin Williamson's album Trusting In The Rising Light. If none of the above strike one as a regular drummers gig then you would be correct in your assumption, as Smith says that he has "always been attracted to the examples in each genre that defy it", and does no less on his own leader debut for the imprint.
First glance at the personnel and the immediate conclusion is that this is a free improvising trio, and that is indeed how the trio presented their first public performance, however on this assumption you would only be half correct. What turned out to be the trio's inaugural outing was never intended to be anything other than a one off gig, and "an opportunity to do something different". The resulting concert revealed so much potential and musical empathy between the participants that Smith not only decided to make the unit a permanent fixture, but also begin developing the overall concept of the trio by writing for the band. In doing so, the percussionist has broadened the scope of the music by imposing structure and form in to the mix, and in a somewhat contradictory manner this seems to have had the effect of freeing up the improvisations with no sense of the trio being confined or restrained by the written material.
It is interesting when listening to the album to try to hear how the trio are guided by any written instruction or notation, and Smith has cleverly varied how he has approached the composed material, either by rigorous editing of the musical score immediately prior to recording as on 'Isn't It Over?', or leaving things wide open on 'Barely Intervallic'. The title track is a fascinating case in question, as it clearly has a predetermined structure with the musicians moving between three tonal areas, and contrasts once again with the melodic and groove based 'It's Always Winter'or the gently propulsive 'Wacken Open Air'.
The highlight of the set comes for me in the calm yet melancholy 'I'll See You On The Dark Side Of The Earth', ten minutes of music that perhaps sums up this remarkable band, and pointing in a direction that Ches Smith will hopefully wish to pursue further.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
