TRIO: FRIEDRICH-HEBERT -MORENO
Surfacing
Jurgen Friedrich piano
John Hebert bass
Tony Moreno drums
recorded 5/5/99 Hanover Germany
NAXOS JAZZ 86060-2
Crotchet
£4.65
AmazonUS
$5.97
1. Surfacing
2. Poeme
3. Azure
4. Shadows
5. Nothing Is As It Seems
6. Hydra
7. The Truth Is Out
8. Monchichi
9. Zugabi
This disc, featuring a trio led by German pianist Jurgen Friedrich is a true
group performance. The emphasis on trio at the start of the title serves
to prepare the listener for the strong sense of ensemble shown in this series
of original compositions [apart from the semi-obscure piece of Ellingtonia,
Azure]
Throughout the album there is a sense of the dramatic - climaxes, shifting
rhythms, tempos and changes of meter.
The trio slip easily from straight eights to swing in several numbers and
there is obviously strong interaction between the performers - with the lead
voice often shifting around the trio. This is not piano accompanied by bass
and drums- there is a feeling of the Bill Evans Trio in the sense of the
cerebral nature of some of the selections, which often move from a single
line development to crashing chords in the style of McCoy Tyner.
This is the debut recording of the trio - it seems almost impossible that
they have achieved such empathy and finesse without years of exposure.
I greatly enjoyed this disc and would strongly recommend it to anyone who
has a liking for the piano trio in jazz.
Dick Stafford
D.S. is a professional reed player and teacher living in
Coventry.
CD
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