GREG BURK EXPANDING TRIO - Message In The Clouds
Tonos Records: TNS005
Greg Burk: piano; Stefano Senni: bass; Enzo Carpentieri: drums
Recorded 15th November 2019 and 10th January 2020 by Clive Simpson at Extra Beat Studios, Rome
Something of a departure from their first outing, in which Burk played a Moog synthesiser, this set has the richness and charm that you’d expect from such accomplished musicians. The decision to record an acoustic set came from their performance at the Buenos Aris Jazz Festival which, if it was anything like this recording, would have been a stunning performance to watch. Born in Michigan and currently living in Rome, Burk honed his piano skills and unique voice playing around Detroit before going up to University of Massachusetts in Amherst to study composition under the likes of George Russell and Paul Bley. He has released a dozen or so album as leader and, if his is name new to you, then this album will be a real treat: both as an introduction to his work and for the beauty of the music it contains.
It is continual surprise and delight to hear Burk’s way around the keyboard and I can’t work out how he manages to keep the pedal down and yet sound so delicate on the faster or more rumbunctious sections. When he picks up the pace, on ‘Breaking the limits’ (track 7) or ‘After image’ (track 3) the title track which opens this set, his voicings ought to be brash and aggressive, so forcefully does he play, and yet there is poetry in each line. Of course, the bit about the heavy pedal is an over-statement and he is perfectly happy playing softly, like on the opening to ‘Love wins’ (track 4) where the shimmering left hand playing underpins a sweetly lyrical ballad.
Senni’s rich acoustic bass playing provides the perfect foil for Burk’s playing, and his solos on ‘The Union’ which closes the set, or ‘Don’t disappear’ (track 2), or ‘Peace for Vanessa’ (track 5) are joyful celebrations of Burk’s compositions, and Carpentieri’s role as rhythm section keeps the music in exciting and always interesting grooves.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Tonos Records: TNS005
Greg Burk: piano; Stefano Senni: bass; Enzo Carpentieri: drums
Recorded 15th November 2019 and 10th January 2020 by Clive Simpson at Extra Beat Studios, Rome
Something of a departure from their first outing, in which Burk played a Moog synthesiser, this set has the richness and charm that you’d expect from such accomplished musicians. The decision to record an acoustic set came from their performance at the Buenos Aris Jazz Festival which, if it was anything like this recording, would have been a stunning performance to watch. Born in Michigan and currently living in Rome, Burk honed his piano skills and unique voice playing around Detroit before going up to University of Massachusetts in Amherst to study composition under the likes of George Russell and Paul Bley. He has released a dozen or so album as leader and, if his is name new to you, then this album will be a real treat: both as an introduction to his work and for the beauty of the music it contains.
It is continual surprise and delight to hear Burk’s way around the keyboard and I can’t work out how he manages to keep the pedal down and yet sound so delicate on the faster or more rumbunctious sections. When he picks up the pace, on ‘Breaking the limits’ (track 7) or ‘After image’ (track 3) the title track which opens this set, his voicings ought to be brash and aggressive, so forcefully does he play, and yet there is poetry in each line. Of course, the bit about the heavy pedal is an over-statement and he is perfectly happy playing softly, like on the opening to ‘Love wins’ (track 4) where the shimmering left hand playing underpins a sweetly lyrical ballad.
Senni’s rich acoustic bass playing provides the perfect foil for Burk’s playing, and his solos on ‘The Union’ which closes the set, or ‘Don’t disappear’ (track 2), or ‘Peace for Vanessa’ (track 5) are joyful celebrations of Burk’s compositions, and Carpentieri’s role as rhythm section keeps the music in exciting and always interesting grooves.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
