ROB BARRON TRIO - From This Moment On
Ubuntu Music UBU0064
Rob Barron - piano; Jeremy Brown - bass; Josh Morrison - drums
Rob Barron is thoroughly embedded in the Uk’s jazz mainstream as pianist of choice for the likes of Jacqui Dankworth, Stacey Kent, Claire Martin, Dave O’Higgins, Steve Fishwick, Allison Neale, Anita Wardell, Georgia Mancio and Jean Toussaint, and his versatility and awesome technique are also evidenced by his parallel career as a film composer, players of jingles and theme tunes and forays into more diverse territory with Kairos 4tet. None of the latter activities have in any way blunted his appetite for the purest swingingest expression of jazz, or reduced his capacity for delivering it with passion and conviction, as evidenced by this latest offering. We’re firmly in the territory of the Golden Age piano trio: The clearest antecedent is perhaps the super-hip, fleet-fingered but streamlined bop arrangements of the Sonny Clark (notably the edition of his trio with George Duvivier and Max Roach) or classic Wynton Kelly trios, rather than the florid bluesyness of Oscar Peterson or Phineas Newborn, the introspective modernism of Bill Evans (though there is a poised, bossa version of the latter’s signature ‘My Foolish Heart’) , or the gospel roots of Les McCann or Horace Parlan. There’s some evidence of later updatings of the formula by the likes of Kenny Barron (no relation) in the unison lick that introduces ‘Lover Man’ for instance, but in general Barron knows exactly what he likes and what he’s trying to achieve, and delivers it magnificently without feeling the need to mess with the formula. His choice of accompanists couldn’t be more simpatico - Jeremy Brown’s full warm tone and light, precise, uncluttered quarter-note swing is a dead ringer for Paul Chambers, beautifully captured in this great-sounding recording, and Josh Morrison knows exactly when to turn up the heat without overcooking the dish. Oliver Nelson’s ‘Butch And Butch’ is a masterclass of uptempo swing, Johnny Mandel’s ‘A Time For Love’ is a perfectly rendered ballad (while ‘In A Sentimental Mood’ and ‘As Time Goes By’ gently confound expectations by rocking along at pace) and Barron’s own originals fit seamlessly into the tracklisting. The sound of masters at work.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
Ubuntu Music UBU0064
Rob Barron - piano; Jeremy Brown - bass; Josh Morrison - drums
Rob Barron is thoroughly embedded in the Uk’s jazz mainstream as pianist of choice for the likes of Jacqui Dankworth, Stacey Kent, Claire Martin, Dave O’Higgins, Steve Fishwick, Allison Neale, Anita Wardell, Georgia Mancio and Jean Toussaint, and his versatility and awesome technique are also evidenced by his parallel career as a film composer, players of jingles and theme tunes and forays into more diverse territory with Kairos 4tet. None of the latter activities have in any way blunted his appetite for the purest swingingest expression of jazz, or reduced his capacity for delivering it with passion and conviction, as evidenced by this latest offering. We’re firmly in the territory of the Golden Age piano trio: The clearest antecedent is perhaps the super-hip, fleet-fingered but streamlined bop arrangements of the Sonny Clark (notably the edition of his trio with George Duvivier and Max Roach) or classic Wynton Kelly trios, rather than the florid bluesyness of Oscar Peterson or Phineas Newborn, the introspective modernism of Bill Evans (though there is a poised, bossa version of the latter’s signature ‘My Foolish Heart’) , or the gospel roots of Les McCann or Horace Parlan. There’s some evidence of later updatings of the formula by the likes of Kenny Barron (no relation) in the unison lick that introduces ‘Lover Man’ for instance, but in general Barron knows exactly what he likes and what he’s trying to achieve, and delivers it magnificently without feeling the need to mess with the formula. His choice of accompanists couldn’t be more simpatico - Jeremy Brown’s full warm tone and light, precise, uncluttered quarter-note swing is a dead ringer for Paul Chambers, beautifully captured in this great-sounding recording, and Josh Morrison knows exactly when to turn up the heat without overcooking the dish. Oliver Nelson’s ‘Butch And Butch’ is a masterclass of uptempo swing, Johnny Mandel’s ‘A Time For Love’ is a perfectly rendered ballad (while ‘In A Sentimental Mood’ and ‘As Time Goes By’ gently confound expectations by rocking along at pace) and Barron’s own originals fit seamlessly into the tracklisting. The sound of masters at work.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
