The Stillness of Motion

Chicagoan Scott Hesse's got a new trio with bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Makaya McCraven, and they have a new album out on Origin called The Stillness of Motion. For those of you familiar with Jeff Parker's trio, the sound will be familiar - a ripping and supple rhythm section playing alongside a guitarist with an impossibly dry tone that makes each jaw dropping run sound clear as a bell. Wayne Shorter's "Dance Cadaverous" gets a gorgeous reading here, but the real gems on this disc are the originals. Hesse's got a unique voice as a composer and all of the songs feel of a piece. "In the Air Again" and "Unit E" are standouts. There's a lot to enjoy here, and I will look forward to getting a chance to hear them more in the next few weeks.