JIM BLACK TRIO – The Constant
Intakt CD268
Jim Black: drums; Elias Stemeseder: piano; Thomas Morgan: bass.
Recorded: December 9th, 10th, 11th, 2015, Water Music, New Jersey.
This is the third recording of this particular trio and it re-emphasises Black’s commitment to melody in the way that he builds his compositions. This is not to imply that there is a verse-chorus-middle eight structure or any hint of lyrics to be sung over the tunes here. Rather what Black does is often to find a tune in a drum pattern and then invite his compadres to interpret this. What this leads to is something that stands apart from other contemporary piano trios in two ways: first there remains a strong element of the improvised and unexpected, and second, while the compositions have a respect of simple song structures, they build into complex soundscapes that richly repay repeated listening.
The pieces here hang together as a suite which meditates on the continual movement of the jazz musician, with a need to establish roots somewhere. Each player, on drums, bass and piano, works on the melody of the piece, but slip from this to the rhythmic complexities of each piece before either retuning to the melody or bringing the piece to a close. Four of the pieces (‘Song H’, track 2, ‘Song O’, track 6, ‘Song M’, track 7, and ‘Song E’, track 8) work not only spell out the word ‘home’ but also share a common thread in their composition. Each piece has a simple and elegant tune that becomes pulled apart and then rebuilt – as if emphasising a move away from the shared belonging to some slightly risky place and then a return. On other pieces (‘High’, track 1, ‘Medium’, track5, and ‘Low’, track 9) there is a family resemblance, in that they share a melody which is treated in different ways. What is lovely in the playing here is that the three musicians are able to maintain a strong cohesion in their playing, while also hinting at the fragility of each piece. This is neatly emphasised by Stemeseder in the liner notes when he says that ‘Sometimes I find the simplicity of his song very challenging. Coming from a ‘Jazz’ standpoint, you always by default want to play more –more obscure, more complex etc.”
What you get from these pieces is the strong sense that often less is more, and the apparent simplicity of these pieces, in the hands of a trio that works so well together, can disguise a seething emotional complexity.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Intakt CD268
Jim Black: drums; Elias Stemeseder: piano; Thomas Morgan: bass.
Recorded: December 9th, 10th, 11th, 2015, Water Music, New Jersey.
This is the third recording of this particular trio and it re-emphasises Black’s commitment to melody in the way that he builds his compositions. This is not to imply that there is a verse-chorus-middle eight structure or any hint of lyrics to be sung over the tunes here. Rather what Black does is often to find a tune in a drum pattern and then invite his compadres to interpret this. What this leads to is something that stands apart from other contemporary piano trios in two ways: first there remains a strong element of the improvised and unexpected, and second, while the compositions have a respect of simple song structures, they build into complex soundscapes that richly repay repeated listening.
The pieces here hang together as a suite which meditates on the continual movement of the jazz musician, with a need to establish roots somewhere. Each player, on drums, bass and piano, works on the melody of the piece, but slip from this to the rhythmic complexities of each piece before either retuning to the melody or bringing the piece to a close. Four of the pieces (‘Song H’, track 2, ‘Song O’, track 6, ‘Song M’, track 7, and ‘Song E’, track 8) work not only spell out the word ‘home’ but also share a common thread in their composition. Each piece has a simple and elegant tune that becomes pulled apart and then rebuilt – as if emphasising a move away from the shared belonging to some slightly risky place and then a return. On other pieces (‘High’, track 1, ‘Medium’, track5, and ‘Low’, track 9) there is a family resemblance, in that they share a melody which is treated in different ways. What is lovely in the playing here is that the three musicians are able to maintain a strong cohesion in their playing, while also hinting at the fragility of each piece. This is neatly emphasised by Stemeseder in the liner notes when he says that ‘Sometimes I find the simplicity of his song very challenging. Coming from a ‘Jazz’ standpoint, you always by default want to play more –more obscure, more complex etc.”
What you get from these pieces is the strong sense that often less is more, and the apparent simplicity of these pieces, in the hands of a trio that works so well together, can disguise a seething emotional complexity.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
