What I’m Diggin’ Right Now!
I’ve been full of excitement lately with the trio’s new CD on the way. It has been without a doubt a very challenging experience to produce this recording but very much a rewarding one. The trio with Kevin Hill and Brian Hamada has a very special vibe. Without question, they individually are great musicians, and also in the various groups they work with, but are very special to the ensemble as a unit.
As a pianist, I have always wanted a trio. So many of my heroes have established themselves as great in the Trio context before their various other pursuits, but so many of those trio’s are so perfect that all parts are so integral to the whole. When I listen to Bill Evans Trio w/ Scott LaFaro, and Paul Motian, or the Keith Jarrett Standards Trio w/ Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette, or even newer trios like Jason Moran’s Bandwagon or Bill Charlap’s Trio, I am consistently in awe of the not only the interplay of the trio but also the deep integrity they approach each tune.
What is very exciting to me is to be able to be a part of a trio that I feel is approaching a cohesive sound. I have known Brian for about 12 years, and over the past 5 years have worked with him in a varity of playing situations. Kevin and high have worked in so many varied contexts over the past 8 or nine years and have worked in a trio context many times. This formation of the trio recently began as a rhythm section for a Quintet with Joe Lewis and Adan Enfante for our March 2005 Rhythms of Art concert. Which was a musical high point for me, and in my eyes the beginning of a very exciting period for me. The trio also was in place in a quartet with Joe Lewis, which has been active since about June of 2005. The more we played the more I felt that I wanted to work within the context of this trio with Brian and Kevin. I suppose the defining moment came for me when we were rehearsing material for our October ROA concert, I was so impressed at how good we sounded as a unit. With both Brian and Kevin so much goes unsaid and is developed on the bandstand. We rehearse infrequently, but the group sound grows every time we play.
I had so many ideas as to what my debut recording would consist of. In fact, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I changed my mind, or even how many false starts I had at developing this project. After I set the date for the recording it took us no more than 3 ½ hours to complete the recording. That time, by the way, included all the rehearsal time and set up time. With the exception of 2 tunes, all the performances were first takes. Brian and Kevin had really never seen much of the music before, and I am sure that learning the music so quickly was no easy task. The outcome of how good the recording sounds is definitely a testament to them as musicians.
Recently, we played a gig at Veni Vidi Vici as a trio, and even though I have played that room countless times over the past 12 years, I was most satisfied with this performance. We played some of the tunes from our CD (which they hadn’t played since we recorded), and some other favorites. Even though the gig was hardly polished, it was one of the most exciting musical experiences I have had. The gig was videotaped and I hope to have some of the video available on the website soon.
I hope that everyone gets a chance to hear this group not only on the CD, but also in performance (check the schedule for concert dates). I’m just glad to be part of it.
As a pianist, I have always wanted a trio. So many of my heroes have established themselves as great in the Trio context before their various other pursuits, but so many of those trio’s are so perfect that all parts are so integral to the whole. When I listen to Bill Evans Trio w/ Scott LaFaro, and Paul Motian, or the Keith Jarrett Standards Trio w/ Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette, or even newer trios like Jason Moran’s Bandwagon or Bill Charlap’s Trio, I am consistently in awe of the not only the interplay of the trio but also the deep integrity they approach each tune.
What is very exciting to me is to be able to be a part of a trio that I feel is approaching a cohesive sound. I have known Brian for about 12 years, and over the past 5 years have worked with him in a varity of playing situations. Kevin and high have worked in so many varied contexts over the past 8 or nine years and have worked in a trio context many times. This formation of the trio recently began as a rhythm section for a Quintet with Joe Lewis and Adan Enfante for our March 2005 Rhythms of Art concert. Which was a musical high point for me, and in my eyes the beginning of a very exciting period for me. The trio also was in place in a quartet with Joe Lewis, which has been active since about June of 2005. The more we played the more I felt that I wanted to work within the context of this trio with Brian and Kevin. I suppose the defining moment came for me when we were rehearsing material for our October ROA concert, I was so impressed at how good we sounded as a unit. With both Brian and Kevin so much goes unsaid and is developed on the bandstand. We rehearse infrequently, but the group sound grows every time we play.
I had so many ideas as to what my debut recording would consist of. In fact, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I changed my mind, or even how many false starts I had at developing this project. After I set the date for the recording it took us no more than 3 ½ hours to complete the recording. That time, by the way, included all the rehearsal time and set up time. With the exception of 2 tunes, all the performances were first takes. Brian and Kevin had really never seen much of the music before, and I am sure that learning the music so quickly was no easy task. The outcome of how good the recording sounds is definitely a testament to them as musicians.
Recently, we played a gig at Veni Vidi Vici as a trio, and even though I have played that room countless times over the past 12 years, I was most satisfied with this performance. We played some of the tunes from our CD (which they hadn’t played since we recorded), and some other favorites. Even though the gig was hardly polished, it was one of the most exciting musical experiences I have had. The gig was videotaped and I hope to have some of the video available on the website soon.
I hope that everyone gets a chance to hear this group not only on the CD, but also in performance (check the schedule for concert dates). I’m just glad to be part of it.
Labels: Artist Thoughts, Artist Update
