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Editorial Reviews
Review
"All told, this is music that expands and contracts, effortlessly and dramatically--and that balances the cerebral components of group improvisation with the more gut-level elements of groove." -- Jazztimes
Product Description
Sky & Country is the ECM debut of the highly regarded Fly Trio collective, a veritable super-group of sorts, and described as "an intimate band with teeth". While Jazz history is not short on highly charged sax/bass/drums trios ala Sonny Rollins and Albert Ayler, Fly Trio present a different attitude, including "equal rights" for instruments & writing. The trio members are; Sax man Mark Turner, who has worked witrh the likes of Dave Holland, Paul Motian, Brad Mehldau, Dave Douglas, Lee Konitz and James Moody; Drummer/percussionist Jeff Ballard, a child prodigy who toured with Ray Charles, and since has played with Lou Donaldson, Chick Corea, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman and Enrico Rava; and Larry Grenadier on bass, who has worked with Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, and Bobby Hutcherson among many others.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've always had a soft-spot for the sax-trio; that spacious formation where technique and ideas are tested, and where if we're very lucky saxophone gods are born. This type of pianoless trio, with a tenor centerpoint in the bass/ drums triangle, immediately brings to mind the (still) great Sonny Rollins, and the precedent he set with albums like Night At The Village Vanguard, Way Out West, and Freedom Suite. Those were all powerful, hard-driving sonic tributes to an unbeatable tenor sound, backed up by skillful ringers in the bass and drum slots, who reacted and backed up the aggressive musings of Rollins. Sky and Country, by the Turner/Ballard/Grenadier collective Fly, is on the other hand a much different (but no less interesting) animal than it's untamed-Rollins-ancestor. An animal slightly cooled by it's ECM recording and melodic sensibilities, but far from domesticated.
For one thing Fly is truly a cooperative, not two sidemen backing up the snaking tenor of Mark Turner. From the rotating authorship of it's compositions, to the free-flowing, intertwined, airy sound, there is no one instrument that dominates the proceedings at the expense of the others. This is a collaboration in name and in form. Interestingly enough these musicians are familiar with each other not just from Fly's eponymous first release: 2004's Fly, but from their many sidemen gigs, working in some combination with Joshua Redman, Brad Meldau, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Chick Corea, and Reid Anderson, among others. Another plus in the experience column is that they are actually a touring group, not just a semi-allstar two-off. As such you can hear their progression from their (very solid) 2004 debut. In that first album Mark Turner was somewhat too tentative, and Jeff Ballard too assertive, but on Sky and Country the balance is chilled perfection.
The other big difference from their first album is the change in record label. ECM, like Blue Note before it, isn't just a label, it's a measurable sound; and like Blue Note it has it's share of champions and detractors based not only on it's personnel but on it's engineering. Whereas Blue Note had that RVG enmeshed gut-level blues, that earth bound sound that had the bass/drums tangled up over the piano, ECM is known for it's spacious-quiet, it's clean and clear separation of the bass and horns, that atmospheric sublime quality that lends itself so well to the European side of things. The saxophone playing of Mark Turner is right at home in this ethereal sound, coming as it is out of Warne Marsh (it's a sad commentary on old timey jazz critics that it's considered "brave" for a black saxophonist like Turner or Braxton to admit to a white influence in their sound, but not surprising considering that many older jazz critics are still in the mind-space of the glorious 60's anyway). And like Marsh, Turner shows to full effect his long snaking lines that are also long on ideas and melody, lines that float like a balloon caught in an invisible current of cool air. This contrasts well with the looping funk of Ballard's drums, and the cascading effect of his cymbal work. Into this languid stew comes Larry Grenadier and his strong, woody, bass (and sometimes cerebral arco), a solid anchor that keeps the music from floating off into space and out of reach.
If you're looking for a reference to help you decide if this album is worth the price of admission I'd say it's a cross between Lee Konitz's cool but charged sax-trio album Motion, and some of the more atmospheric musings of the Paul Motian trio like I Have the Room Above Her (infact Lovano and Turner have much in common). I can see how this might not be for everyone, but if you're like me and love hearing a different take on the sax-trio then you won't be disapointed by this up-and-coming co-op.
cheers.
For one thing Fly is truly a cooperative, not two sidemen backing up the snaking tenor of Mark Turner. From the rotating authorship of it's compositions, to the free-flowing, intertwined, airy sound, there is no one instrument that dominates the proceedings at the expense of the others. This is a collaboration in name and in form. Interestingly enough these musicians are familiar with each other not just from Fly's eponymous first release: 2004's Fly, but from their many sidemen gigs, working in some combination with Joshua Redman, Brad Meldau, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Chick Corea, and Reid Anderson, among others. Another plus in the experience column is that they are actually a touring group, not just a semi-allstar two-off. As such you can hear their progression from their (very solid) 2004 debut. In that first album Mark Turner was somewhat too tentative, and Jeff Ballard too assertive, but on Sky and Country the balance is chilled perfection.
The other big difference from their first album is the change in record label. ECM, like Blue Note before it, isn't just a label, it's a measurable sound; and like Blue Note it has it's share of champions and detractors based not only on it's personnel but on it's engineering. Whereas Blue Note had that RVG enmeshed gut-level blues, that earth bound sound that had the bass/drums tangled up over the piano, ECM is known for it's spacious-quiet, it's clean and clear separation of the bass and horns, that atmospheric sublime quality that lends itself so well to the European side of things. The saxophone playing of Mark Turner is right at home in this ethereal sound, coming as it is out of Warne Marsh (it's a sad commentary on old timey jazz critics that it's considered "brave" for a black saxophonist like Turner or Braxton to admit to a white influence in their sound, but not surprising considering that many older jazz critics are still in the mind-space of the glorious 60's anyway). And like Marsh, Turner shows to full effect his long snaking lines that are also long on ideas and melody, lines that float like a balloon caught in an invisible current of cool air. This contrasts well with the looping funk of Ballard's drums, and the cascading effect of his cymbal work. Into this languid stew comes Larry Grenadier and his strong, woody, bass (and sometimes cerebral arco), a solid anchor that keeps the music from floating off into space and out of reach.
If you're looking for a reference to help you decide if this album is worth the price of admission I'd say it's a cross between Lee Konitz's cool but charged sax-trio album Motion, and some of the more atmospheric musings of the Paul Motian trio like I Have the Room Above Her (infact Lovano and Turner have much in common). I can see how this might not be for everyone, but if you're like me and love hearing a different take on the sax-trio then you won't be disapointed by this up-and-coming co-op.
cheers.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By ziryab
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ir is very hard to say anything more than what was already stated in previous reviews but sometimes you just need to write something to say how much you liked an album and that gives you a reason to write a review. Even if I repeat what the other reviewers said it is a fantastic record, with fantastic musicians playing at their best. Mark Turner is incredible here even much better than in the 2004 release of FLY, everything seems more balanced, of course the ECM contributed to the great sound but it is more than that: it is only after listening to it several times and even more that you realize the importance of this recording, there is always more to discover, more to be attentive to... The coherence of the trio is just masterful. Highly recommended!
Another incredible performance of Mark Turner was on the Delbecq Unit release of 2004 called "Phonetics". Check it out, it is also a fantastic record.
Another incredible performance of Mark Turner was on the Delbecq Unit release of 2004 called "Phonetics". Check it out, it is also a fantastic record.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is a masterpiece of three master artists. To my opinion this is how a Jazz trio sax, double bass and drums should sound.
If you listen to Fly you hear the ultimate freedom within a balanced structure. The mixture of rhythm, harmony and melody is very balanced. Although it is a trio Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier and Mark Turner fill the full spectrum. As a listener you will experience character, emotion and freedom in improvisation.
Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard all expose their individual sound and creativity.
If you listen to Fly you hear the ultimate freedom within a balanced structure. The mixture of rhythm, harmony and melody is very balanced. Although it is a trio Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier and Mark Turner fill the full spectrum. As a listener you will experience character, emotion and freedom in improvisation.
Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard all expose their individual sound and creativity.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
I hate to say it, but this one doesn't "fly".
I was very excited to buy this album, as Fly is one of my favorite groups. Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier, and Jeff Ballard are three of the most talented jazz musicians playing... Read more
Published on February 15, 2010 by O. Kerr
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dull and boring
Having listened to this recording a few times there is nothing here that's keeping my interest. All the songs seem to meander to long, and sound the same. Read more
Published on November 27, 2009 by Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best records of 2009
ECM always bring us superb music, this record is no exception ,is pure beautiful. What a sax,bass,drums trio!!!!!!
Published on May 3, 2009 by Alberto Egoavil
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