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By AAJ STAFF, Published: April 6, 2015 | 40,422 views

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When one talks about "jazz piano music," it is almost taken for granted they are talking

Multiple Reviews
Two OA2 Records Releases...
Laurent Coq / Walter Smith III
The LaFayette Suite

about jazz piano trio music. The trio is and has been most jazz pianists' favorite format, and
with good reason: the jazz piano trio has been said at times to represent the essence of
jazz in the most condensed yet effective way possible.
A piano trio takes full advantage of swing, interaction, and dynamics. There have certainly
been outstanding jazz piano trios throughout jazz history, each with its own signature
sound: There is the majestic swing of the Oscar Peterson trio, the classy bop of Hank Jones
and his trio, the great independence within the Bill Evans trio, and so on. Each great jazz
piano trio has brought something slightly different into the fold.
As a general rule of thumb, it would seem that since 1960 piano trios have become more
interactive and democratic. Formerly, in the heyday of both swing and bop, the piano
assumed a very dominant role where, it would have been fair to say, it was less a trio in the
ideal sense of three equal parts, than it was piano PLUS bass and drums. The Bill Evans trio

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was critical towards pushing the envelope for a more democratic piano trio; now we can
look to fine piano trios like those of Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau as their continued

Saturday Morning

legacy. There will always be room for more straight-ahead swinging piano trios, where bass

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and drums play roles more defined as timekeeping and support for the pianist, but the arc
points towards greater and greater interaction.

Complete Collection: 1951-1959

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Ahmad Jamal Trio: Cross-Country Tour

At the Pershing: But Not for Me

This two CD set captures one of the all-time great jazz piano trios,

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Jamal with Israel Crosby and Vernel Fournier, in a variety of live

club settings, and includes the legendary Pershing date.

(54)

Complete Collection: 1959-1962

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(7)

The Awakening

Wynton Kelly: Someday My Prince Will Come

Kelly was renown for his incredibly graceful swing and sensitive
touch, here in ample display on this fine trio side. Available in a

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Blue
Moonon Amazon.com
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newly remastered edition.

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Piano Trio

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Bill Evans Trio: Sunday at The Village Vanguard

The magical trio comprised of Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro and Paul
Motian plays before an audience seemingly indifferent to the
music; pay them no mind, there is plenty for the attentive listener
to appreciate in this refined, nuanced statement equally delivered
by three parts.
Newborn / Chambers / Haynes: We Three
A fantastic "power" trio that nonetheless plays with understated
refinement throughout. All of Newborn's trio sides are worthwhile,
but this is a collective triumph.

Showcase
Wildflower

Oscar Peterson Trio: The Trio

Joanna Pascale

Bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen here provide Oscar

with a majestic cushion to roll over in this mighty call to arms of
The Trio.

Clifford Brown
Remembered

Glenn Zottola
Hank Jones: The Trio
Similarly, one would be wise to heed the call of any Hank Jones
record titled The Trio; this is eminently satisfying boppish piano
jazz by one of the most undersung piano masters.

Hampton Hawes: This is Hampton Hawes: Volume 2, The Trio

Though primarily influenced by Bud Powell, Hawes transcended the
status of pure bop pianist with records that were paragons of jazz
piano excellence.

McCoy Tyner: Inception

McCoy sounds uncommonly melodic with Art Davis and Elvin Jones,
with every tune bearing a certain romanticism in addition to the
general swing-iness.

Chick Corea: Now He Sings, Now He Sobs

A brilliant conceptual piano trio record that has been studied by
countless pianists, this was one of Chick's true moments of genius.
"Windows" and "Matrix" have become jazz classics.

Keith Jarrett Trio: Standards Live

Start here: A live date presciently played by easily the most
influential piano trio of recent years. Conceptually indebted to the
Bill Evans trio, but undoubtedly its own creature as well.

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Ahmad Jamal: Chicago Revisited: Live at Joe Segal's Jazz

Showcase
Not to over-represent Mr. Jamal, but this set stands on its own
terms as a great trio record. Jamal, who seems to makes the most
of every trio situation, is shown by turns to be sophisticated,
exuberant, and witty.

Lyle Mays: Fictionary

This is no fiction; a good-natured essay, perhaps, on the complex
interplay and dialogue that may be achieved within the modern
jazz piano trio. An odyssey of sound by three parts.

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Cedar Walton Trio: Ironclad

No jazz piano trio collection is complete without an entry from the
fine Cedar Walton, here live at Yoshi's with his stalwart trio of
David Williams on bass and the late, great Billy Higgins on drums.

Kenny Barron: Live at Bradley's

Simply stellar mainstream piano trio music, played at the
legendary venue where piano trios often ruled the roost and the
stakes were high for a piano trio to deliver. Barron, Drummond and
Riley show they just don't mess around check "Alter Ego."

Marilyn Crispell: Amaryllis

A beautiful, crystalline record that shows in equal doses the
empathetic potential of a piano trio and its potential to create art.
Those wishing to pursue the logic of Bill Evans' trios to the extreme
should start with the interactive trios of Crispell and Bley.

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