Ben Winkelman Trio

The Knife

oa2 22122

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MUSIC REVIEW BY John McBeath, The Australian

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Ex-Melbourne pianist Ben Winkelman, New York based since 2010, has just released his fourth trio album, this one recorded in, and inspired by New York. His first, Stomps, Pieces & Variations appeared on Jazzhead in 2005. Winkelman's playing has certainly evolved since he moved to the US, but he remains interested in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Klezmer music - a style of Jewish traditional music often played at weddings - as well as classical music, and incorporates these influences in his trio setting. The thirteen originals demonstrate Winkelman's command of various jazz piano approaches: Silvia works through an uptempo post-bop piece with big luscious chords and a quick melodic line, while Remolacha (Spanish: sugar beet) employs a Latino rhythm, with suitably discursive piano treble, and allows wide scope for Sam Anning's bass contributions, as well as for Eric Doob's inventive percussion. The title track uses brief semi-classical excursions in a composition that also includes a bluesy undercurrent and fast Art Tatum-like runs. The longest track, The Schlep, at over seven minutes, features clever rhythmic hesitations, giving the bass an opportunity to weave through an emphasised solo, and Doob offers a punctuated passage between Winkelman's chords.While I Sleep successfully paints a dark scenario with dreamy passages, yet swings in a strong way, abetted by Anning's solidly stable bass line perfectly integrated with the piano. This is an album of great variety, showing that much can be achieved by a piano trio with imaginative compositions, and skilled, unified players.








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