Customer Reviews

Trio

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

 

 

The booklet for this wonderful record sheds no light on why these guys only got together this one time, nor any explanation for its undeserved obscurity. A nice mixture of classics and three originals, the musicians clearly enjoyed being in the same room. (If you didn't know their histories, you could easily believe they'd played many a club date together.) For collectors of anything by Carter or Williams, this is not a must-have, even though both sound inspired, but lovers of Flanagan's work shouldn't hesitate.

Tommy Flanagan was a wonderful pianist. Even on less than interesting material, he was never less than a top-notch piano player. But I can't agree that this was the right setting for him. Tony Williams may have been a genius with Miles Davis, but here breaks up the rhythm and is generally a nuisance; miles away from the sympathetic drumming of a Joe Chambers or a Lewis Nash. Ron Carter's bass has the ugly over-amplified plastic sound that marred so many of Bill Evans' recordings with Eddie Gomez. There are better trio records with Flanagan out there. Go for the ones with Reggie Workman and Joe Chambers, or Kenny Wahington and Lewis Nash.

When I get to heaven and step into the piano bar for my welcoming vodka and lemon juice, THIS will be the music playing. Each of these three musicians is a master and their thoughtful collaborations sound so easy and full of joy. If you like straight ahead jazz, this belongs in the smallest of collections.

any tommy flanagan album is a perfect background music for a night of entertaining at home. i found out about him when i bought the album saxophone colossus of sonny rollins.