Mirage

Pianist Andrew Moorhead has assembled a familiar trio. Drummer Ari Hoenig and bassist Francois Moutin have previously worked together in trios with pianists Kenny Werner, James Hurt, and Jean-Michel Pilc, they are an esteemed pairing of like-minded musicians. With Moorhead's non-traditional writing, they have found another side to their musical triangle. Moorhead's attack is strong, and his vernacular is highly rhythmic. His compositions (seem to) lean on ostinato and vamp-based ideas, but his harmonic language is deep. His songs sound circular, which leaves Moutin and Hoenig to increase and decrease the size of the circles depending on the rhythmic playground that the composer has created. Moorhead creates sonic "mirages" (if you will) with his dynamics, and the trio responds in kind. Hoenig applies his polyrhythms and time shifts within the trio with ease, while Moutin creates a harmonic foundation for Moorhead's excursions. The constant rhythmic shifts, the melodic interplay, and the cohesiveness, strength, and concept of Moorhead's trio make this very interesting music.