Upper Left Trio

Ulternative

82608

Purchase

iTunes - $9.99


MUSIC REVIEW BY John Barron, The Jazz Word

VIEW THE CD DETAIL PAGE

Portland's Upper Left Trio continues to bring a contemporary leaning to the traditional piano trio format with Ulternative, their fourth release for Origin Records. With a fresh batch of hip tunes by pianist Clay Giberson and bassist Jeff Leonard, this like-minded collaborative relish in progressive improvisational splendor with the willingness to dig in to a deep groove.

Giberson moves back and forth from acoustic and electric piano, meeting the expressive nature of each piece. He displays dazzling Rhodes work on the rocked-out Leonard piece "Fear and Bright Colors" and dynamic piano playing on his own funker "The Crush." Leonard's electric bass brings a distinctive timbre to the music, creating dramatic fretless lines on tunes such as "Cross off the Stars" and "Home." Drummer Charlie Doggett seems to anticipate his band mates every move, pushing and pulling while maintaining a tight pocket. "Steel Wheel," Doggett's only compositional contribution, moves nicely from a kind of free-form ballad pulse to a Bill Evans type of jazz waltz.

An ear-catching release by a group truly deserving of wider recognition.








ORIGIN RECORDS

OA2 RECORDS

ORIGIN CLASSICAL

CONTACT US

  • Origin Records
    8649 Island Drive South
    Seattle, WA 98118
    ph: (206) 781-2589
    fx: (206) 374-2618
  • Email / Order Info / Etc
THE ORIGIN MUSIC GROUP • FOUNDED 1997 / SEATTLE, WA • THE MUSIC YOU NEED