Hindsight

Trios consisting of trumpet, piano and bass are rare, which is why the line-up of the band Affinity Trio makes you sit up and take notice. This also applies to the music, a mix of originals and rare jazz standards. The debut album, recorded in Chicago, allows intimate insights into making music together, in which all three musicians--trumpeter Eric Jacobson, Pamela York on piano and Clay Schaub on double bass--are always responsible for rhythmic stability. Jacobson has an absolutely clear tone, in the tradition of a Roy Hargrove or Tom Harrell, which is evident in his "Open Windows," the ballad "Theme for Ernie," the up-tempo tracks "Tin Tin Deo," "The End of a Love Affair" as well as the Parker classics "Bongo Beep" and "Segment" come into their own. Pamela York also impresses with her consistently sensitive and swinging playing, including in her "Blues for Change." Finally, Clay Schaub impresses with his intonation-pure, rhythmically secure playing and is particularly convincing with his solos in "Fitzroy," Cedar Walton's "Hindsight" and in York's "Blues for Change." 4/5 - "DEFINITELY LISTEN" (Translated from German)