COMPOSERS: Various
LABELS: In & Out
WORKS: Lynne Arriale - Come Together
PERFORMER: Lynne Arriale
CATALOGUE NO: IOR CD 77069 2
Piano trios have been making all the running in jazz recently. But it is tough guys such as The Bad Plus and EST that have been grabbing the headlines with their robust, rock-oriented delivery. Meanwhile, conservatory-trained Lynne Arriale has been getting on with business, recording a series of contemplative gems that stay within the tradition. Marking its tenth anniversary together, Come Together confirms the trio as one of the best small groups on the circuit.
Arriale leads from the front, sounding elegant yet supple on the streaming up-tempo numbers, poised and sonorous on ballads. She cites fellow American Keith Jarrett as an influence and her (infrequent) extemporisation has a similar giddiness to it. Her embrace of melody and her emphasis on note quality is reminiscent of Bill Evans. She can write, too: six of the nine numbers are original where uncomplicated and wistful tunes linger in the memory. Praise to the rhythm section where longtime partnership shows in the perfectly judged background. Garry Booth