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Piano TrioPiano TrioBy Published: April 6, 2015 | 40,422 views

When one talks about "jazz piano music," it is almost taken for granted they are talkingabout jazz piano trio music. The trio is and has been most jazz pianists' favorite format, andwith good reason: the jazz piano trio has been said at times to represent the essence ofjazz in the most condensed yet effective way possible.

A piano trio takes full advantage of swing, interaction, and dynamics. There have certainlybeen outstanding jazz piano trios throughout jazz history, each with its own signaturesound: There is the majestic swing of the Oscar Peterson trio, the classy bop of Hank Jonesand his trio, the great independence within the Bill Evans trio, and so on. Each great jazzpiano 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 moreinteractive and democratic. Formerly, in the heyday of both swing and bop, the pianoassumed a very dominant role where, it would have been fair to say, it was less a trio in theideal sense of three equal parts, than it was piano PLUS bass and drums. The Bill Evans triowas critical towards pushing the envelope for a more democratic piano trio; now we canlook to fine piano trios like those of Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau as their continuedlegacy. There will always be room for more straight-ahead swinging piano trios, where bassand drums play roles more defined as timekeeping and support for the pianist, but the arcpoints towards greater and greater interaction.

Ahmad Jamal Trio: Cross-Country Tour This two CD set captures one of the all-time great jazz piano trios,Jamal with Israel Crosby and Vernel Fournier, in a variety of liveclub settings, and includes the legendary Pershing date.

Wynton Kelly: Someday My Prince Will Come Kelly was renown for his incredibly graceful swing and sensitivetouch, here in ample display on this fine trio side. Available in anewly remastered edition.

517 RECOMMEND IT! PREV NEXT

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Bill Evans Trio: Sunday at The Village Vanguard The magical trio comprised of Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro and PaulMotian plays before an audience seemingly indifferent to themusic; pay them no mind, there is plenty for the attentive listenerto appreciate in this refined, nuanced statement equally deliveredby three parts.

Newborn / Chambers / Haynes: We Three A fantastic "power" trio that nonetheless plays with understatedrefinement throughout. All of Newborn's trio sides are worthwhile,but this is a collective triumph.

Oscar Peterson Trio: The Trio Bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen here provide Oscarwith a majestic cushion to roll over in this mighty call to arms ofThe Trio.

Hank Jones: The Trio Similarly, one would be wise to heed the call of any Hank Jonesrecord titled The Trio; this is eminently satisfying boppish pianojazz 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 thestatus of pure bop pianist with records that were paragons of jazzpiano excellence.

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

Chick Corea: Now He Sings, Now He Sobs A brilliant conceptual piano trio record that has been studied bycountless 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 mostinfluential piano trio of recent years. Conceptually indebted to theBill Evans trio, but undoubtedly its own creature as well.

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Ahmad Jamal: Chicago Revisited: Live at Joe Segal's JazzShowcase Not to over-represent Mr. Jamal, but this set stands on its ownterms as a great trio record. Jamal, who seems to makes the mostof 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 complexinterplay and dialogue that may be achieved within the modernjazz piano trio. An odyssey of sound by three parts.

Cedar Walton Trio: Ironclad No jazz piano trio collection is complete without an entry from thefine Cedar Walton, here live at Yoshi's with his stalwart trio ofDavid 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 thelegendary venue where piano trios often ruled the roost and thestakes were high for a piano trio to deliver. Barron, Drummond andRiley show they just don't mess around check "Alter Ego."

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

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