HBH TRIO & JULIAN PRIESTER – Signals from the Mind
SLAMCD 588
David Haney (piano); David Bajda (acoustic guitar); Jorge Hernaez, (acoustic bass); Julian Priester (trombone)
Recorded at Classic Pianos, Portland, Oregon, June 26th 2017
Were I to compose (no, I mean improvise) a list of descriptors for free jazz I would want to include anarchic, avant garde, bright, colourful, creative, dramatic, dynamic, eclectic, energetic, evocative, experimental, expressive, free, interesting, inventive, non-conformist, original, playful, provocative, remarkable, spontaneous, subtle, vivacious and weird, for starters.
The music by the HBH Trio is full of all of that and in varying combinations, too. Their resonances, their paradigms, their choices, their playing graces breathe avant-garde jazz; their panache is redolent of all kinds of modes of ‘modern’ jazz since be-bop: post-bop, hard-bop, new-bop, and all kinds of avant and improv since.
Julian Priester’s trombone also adds an extraordinary and fascinating playing style. It seems to alter the dynamic forces integral to the trio and contributes rhythmic bass lines which may suddenly transmute to lively, shining, flamboyant, energetic and expressive solo parts.
Impulsive, improvised solos from all four musicians are welcomed and there are no divas seeking the limelight, each musician being fully empathetic with the coming ideas of his colleagues. This awareness is echoed in their collective improvisation, enlarging and enhancing the consequence of a truly avant-garde jazz performance.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
SLAMCD 588
David Haney (piano); David Bajda (acoustic guitar); Jorge Hernaez, (acoustic bass); Julian Priester (trombone)
Recorded at Classic Pianos, Portland, Oregon, June 26th 2017
Were I to compose (no, I mean improvise) a list of descriptors for free jazz I would want to include anarchic, avant garde, bright, colourful, creative, dramatic, dynamic, eclectic, energetic, evocative, experimental, expressive, free, interesting, inventive, non-conformist, original, playful, provocative, remarkable, spontaneous, subtle, vivacious and weird, for starters.
The music by the HBH Trio is full of all of that and in varying combinations, too. Their resonances, their paradigms, their choices, their playing graces breathe avant-garde jazz; their panache is redolent of all kinds of modes of ‘modern’ jazz since be-bop: post-bop, hard-bop, new-bop, and all kinds of avant and improv since.
Julian Priester’s trombone also adds an extraordinary and fascinating playing style. It seems to alter the dynamic forces integral to the trio and contributes rhythmic bass lines which may suddenly transmute to lively, shining, flamboyant, energetic and expressive solo parts.
Impulsive, improvised solos from all four musicians are welcomed and there are no divas seeking the limelight, each musician being fully empathetic with the coming ideas of his colleagues. This awareness is echoed in their collective improvisation, enlarging and enhancing the consequence of a truly avant-garde jazz performance.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
