Secret Exit to Another Dimension

5-STARS This album is a delight from the first to the last note, as it clearly demonstrates how good a trio with bass, guitar and drums can sound. The protagonists come from Belgium and present eight of their own compositions as well as one each by Charlie Parker and Thelonius Monk. The versatility of the program makes this CD a musical treat. Verbiest's melodious bass sound paired with Braeckman's sensitive guitar playing - reminiscent of Jim Hall and Attila Zoller - and Beuven's sensitive drumming, which always grooves strongly at the right moment, make for an album that you'll enjoy playing again and again. Outstanding are Verbiest's compositions "A Noble Trice", an anagram for "Celebration", dedicated to his parents, an atmospheric lullaby "Minikin Milan", written for his then three-year-old son, and Braeckman's cheerfully swinging "Map Map" and "Ji Ha", dedicated to the great guitarist Jim Hall. Also very original are the arrangements of the blues "Cheryl" by Charlie Parker, very freely played and stylistically reminiscent of New Orleans, and also Monk's ballad "Pannonica". Verbiest's "Secret Exit", an uptempo number in which Braeckman surprises with rough and distorted guitar playing, is out of the ordinary.