There have been several jazz guitar trio albums in the past, the most
noteworthy probably the high voltage Friday Night in San Francisco live
recording featuring John McLaughlin,Paco De Lucia, and Al Di Meola –
also now reissued on SACD. The new trio is an unexpected delight put
together by acoustic guitarist Coryell and David Chesky and is a
location recording (made in a church) in the best hi-res sonics the
Cheskys can provide. Larry is on the left channel, John on the
right on his acoustic guitar, and in the center is Brazilian guitarist
and vocalist Assad playing not only her nylon string classical guitar
but also thumb piano, copper flute, doing some vocals and creating
mouth and body percussion. Those varied Brazilian
percussion effects coming from Badi added a lot of audiophile interest
to the proceedings. The notes say the session was in the middle of
winter and the church was cold, so really high-res gear might possibly
reproduce the humming of the heaters used.
The 13 tracks are all original compositions by either one of the three
guitarists, or two or all three of them collaborating. Badi Assad
had never played with jazz musicians before and love the experience.
Abercrombie shared with Coryell having been involved in early fusion
jazz, but Coryell has long been mixing rock, blues and country with
jazz. So the trio came from somewhat different places but found
it easy to play and create together. And you’ll definitely find
the album easy to listen to as well.
Tracks: Seu jorge e dona ica, New Lute Prelude, New Lute Interlude,
Soundtrack, After the Rain, Descending Grace, Metamorphosis, No Flight
Tonight, Ralph’s Piano Waltz, Suspended Circles, Exercise in Fourths,
Autumn Breeze, Timeless.
– John Henry
