Customer Reviews

Trio

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Out of left field. Check. Three Poles, who form the backup group to trumpet genius, Thomasz Stanko. But who would've predicted that they'd move the music beyond their boss and master? (Well, setting modesty aside, I did say, in my review of Stanko's Suspended Night, "As impressive as Stanko is here . . . the real heroes are his Polish [backup group].")

Weird intersection of ravishing beauty and hardcore rigor. Check. These guys, although they can and do hang with the most gorgeous of the recent ECM trio outings, e.g., the Tord Gustavson Trio, Anderson/Tsabropoulos/Marshall, and Taylor/Johnson/Baron, also have a similarly rigorous, deeply delved jazz sensibility. Where they got it from, who knows. Endlessly listening to Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett sides clandestinely available in Poland? Tuning in to Radio Free America jazz broadcasts? Encountering likeminded musicians as they toured the Free World with their trumpet master? Somehow connecting with, absorbing, and transmuting Ryuichi Sakamoto's unique musical vision? It matters little. The important thing is, they've got it.

Absolute assurance in the conceptualization and execution of their unique musical vision. Check. This is jazz that I've never heard before, but, paradoxically, have heard my entire adult life. Shades of past and present masters (Evans, Jarrett, Werner, Lafaro, Baron, Haden, Motian, Erskine, Higgins), dancing, lilting, singing, swinging in their own glorious idiom, resonating with jazz icons of the first water, but somehow uniquely showing forth their own hard-won musical insights.

Music that's just too beautiful, but that you don't want to quit listening to (unlike saccharine sweet jazz lite, that initially beguiles but soon wears out its welcome). Check. I, literally, can't get this stinkin' disc off my player. It keeps working its way back in, no matter how hard I try to listen to other stuff.

Music that continually surprises, even as it becomes more and more listener-friendly. Check. Each time I hear this astounding disc, I get something new out of it. But, weirdly, not as some kind of jazz LESSON; just as the consequence of listening with ears open and encountering music of great generosity clothed in almost simplistic garb. To paraphrase C. S. Lewis: The door to jazz is low, and you must stoop to enter. And its foremost practitioners have mastered the off-hand grandeur that characterizes this music at its, paradoxically, most exalted and most humble moments.

Seldom does any disc, no matter from what genre or idiom, rise to the heights this music naturally walks in and among. One thinks of Omar Sosa at the summit of his ecstatic expression (Mulatos and Pictures of Soul), or, perhaps, of Peter Epstein's magical The Invisible or Nascer, or the Egberto Gismonti of Magico or Sanfona, or Safa. And few others. For me to include this altogether marvelous music among these masters means I have placed it in some kind of veritable musical Pantheon.

And I have.

So if you don't pick up on it, don't blame me. I gave you fair warning.

This was an impulse buy for me, as I was looking for something new in the ECM canon, i.e., some late-night or "3 a.m." jazz. It's easy to say after having this album for a few months that I got exactly what I was looking for.

The influences are generally agreed upon by the other reviewers listed here: Bill Evans, perhaps the quieter side of Keith Jarrett, but this is certainly something different. This younger trio does have their own language and brand of telepathy, so it is not a ripoff of things done better by other artists. This is a piano trio with their own sound that can be recognized and not confused with other groups/performers.

Wasilewski's sound is pretty impressive. I like his phrasing and sensitivity; he's not trying to get too far outside and is more concerned with getting to the heart of the matter, but when he does take chances he never falters. Occasionally you'll have to contend with his vocalise, but that's something that has never bothered me (not even with Jarrett, ha!).

The original compositions contain chord changes that are more on the diatonic or modal side, often closing with vamps, and none of the songs seem to be vehicles for how clever or virtuosic the trio can be; they are more interested in creating a contemplative mood than blowing their stacks. Other songs seem to have been improvised on the spot, and their titles will tell you which ones they are.

I like "Free-Bop" a lot; a little free jazz head that I keep whistling, and a nice springboard for some free improv from the group.

This is a solid effort and I can't find anything at all wrong with it. It's the kind of album you keep coming back to. It does what it sets out to do very nicely, indeed.

I am always listening to a lot of new music. And when there's a new ECM release I usually grab it immediately. That was the case with Trio. And I am glad. Here we have wonderful, inventive, relaxed trio playing by three very talented players. Young, creative guys I have seen at Blues Alley here in D.C. accompanying Tomasz Stanko. I think I may prefer the Trio to the Stanko group as I find Stanko's searing, sarchastic tone (reminding me of Prokofiev & Shostakovich) can wear me down a bit. Listening to Trio these past couple of weeks I have been reminded of an old-ish favorite of mine, Lyle Mays's Fictionary, with all its Bill Evans-isms. This is not a bad thing. Trio is a really rewarding new release. I will look forward to hearing more from these guys.

I've seen Simple Acoustic Trio (the full name of the band) live with Stanko on March 6 and I was smitten, esp. by the piano virtuoso and their energy. I bought the CD and, though restrained compared to the concert, it is one of my current favourites (esp. Bjork's Hyperballad, KTC and Sister's Song). I like this kind of piano playing (I also like Jarrett, Evans, Svensson of EST) and this atmosphere reminiscent of Stanko but more, shall I say, "optimistic". Strong 5 stars and a place in Top 10% of my CD collection.

I got this CD on the recommendation of an NPR music reviewer, and when I first listened to it, I didn't hear the laid-back, easy mellowness I'd been led to expect. But when I gave it another go, I began hearing the wonderful complexity of haunting melodic riffs, the soulful bass lines, and agitated drum work, and while I can't pronounce the names of any of the performers, I fell for this group in a big way.

It's not a stretch to compare "Trio" to what it must have been like hearing "Kind of Blue" for the first time. What seems to be a melancholy restlessness begins to materialize as the thoughtful and deeply felt, making an imprint on memory that promises and delivers a welcome journey through moods and colorations at the start of each replayed cut. Sounds great in a car stereo and after many listenings I've found that it responds nicely to all kinds of traffic conditions. Also recommended: Tord Gustavsen Trio, "Changing Places."

This album and this group have been growing on me for months. I like the Marcin Wasilewski Trio much better than Keith Jarrett. Even though Keith Jarrett is a genius and may have superior technical skills, I like Marcin's presentation way better.

The tempo and complexity of Marcin's playing is fascinating to listen to. In that regard he is superior to Tord Gustavsen who's music is just a bit too slow and simplistic for me.

I also love the drummer, drummer Michal Miskiewicz very much. He has a very nice touch and at times he'll throw in a surprise. Marcin has played with numerous European jazz stars, Tomaz Stanko, Jan Gabarek and others. Marcin has been with the Trio's bassist and drummer, Kurkiewicz, Miskiewicz for a very long time, since they were in their teens.

"Trio" is a really superb album. It's their first album as a trio. In my review of their later album, "January" I said that I thought "January" was a little more polished. But I can't get enough of either of these two albums. The music is just so captivating. They have remained at the top of my playlist for months. I recommend albums both highly.

I just hope a new Marcin Wasilewski Trio album is on the near horizon!

When I first heard the Tomasz Stanko Quartet on their 2002 release "Soul of Things", their pianist Marcin Wasilewski really touched my heart with his fragile and yet powerful performance. On this CD, where he performs with his side men Slawomir Kurkiewicz (bass) and Michal Miskiewicz (drums) only, and the music is simply out of this world. I really enjoy how Marcin and his young friends present the various compositions. The recording is excellent, too (Jan Erik Kongshaug and producer Manfred Eicher), and you can hear how each tone in the piano vibrates and creates different colors. This recording reminds me of one of the principles in jazz music: It is more important to listen than to play. It also reminds me of this saying: "The power of a note lies in the space before and after it."

Helge K.

Vasilevsky is one of my favorite pianists. His communication through the key and sound is so philosophic and intimate. If you are in a such kind of mood you will find in this CD your like-minded friend. His taste and sounding are flawless. Other musicians are wonderful as well. I highly recommend this CD to the thinkable music lovers, not only jazz fans.

hypnotic, no... mesmerizing. At first i thought, possibly dull and too laid back. But these guys know their music, it's excellent jazz.

These guys play so well, individually and together, I am not worthy to speak on their music except to add my praise to the rest. Even when playing abstractly, this trio conveys a certain majesty in their mystery. I don't know how you can listen to them seriously without becoming incredibly peaceful and relaxed. Mixed in with their own compositions are their versions of Bjork, Wayne Shorter, and even one from their co-conspirator Tomasz Stanko. It must be an honor to have one of your songs played by these musicians. Every song on this cd has such an integrity, every note played with such care. If you love beautiful music and jazz then this cd is a must have. Over the course of hearing several cd's, I've come to expect the unexpected from these guys. Nothing is ever trite but full of surprise and wonder. Listening to K.T.C. I am reminded that Marcin Wasilewski plays with such melody and harmonic invention while drummer Michal Miskiewicz and bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz provide equal parts daring and taste. I am most reminded of Jack Dejohnette in Miskiewicz's drumming. Both drummers paint with their sticks, such color and hues which contribute to the magical experience of listening. There is nothing ordinary about this trio, nothing mundane on this cd. I am a new fan of this group and based upon the music contained on Trio, will be for life.