Antwerp

Two Flemings and an American who form a trio and choose the title 'Antwerp' for their CD. It could give rise to a lot of jokes. Not so in this case. Pianist Bram Weijters, double bassist Piet Verbist and drummer John Bishop deliver a recording bursting with modern jazz with clear links to a familiar jazz past.

The story of this trio starts in 2008 during the famous Banff conference festival and workshops where the American trumpeter Chad McCullough met the Flemish pianist Bram Weijters. This led to a quartet with Piet Verbist and John Bishop, followed by tours in the USA, Europe and even Russia. Three albums were released. Life after Covid led to a shift in which Verbist, Weijters and Bishop stepped into a studio as a trio in the spring of 2023.

Weijters and Verbist had some old and new compositions available, which were supplemented with work by Hal Galper (an underrated Origin artist in Europe), Carla Bley ('Lawns') and Henri Mancini ('Two For The Road'). A very eclectic setlist that reflects the (live) potential of the trio in the right way.

They introduce themselves with an appropriate title, 'Rüchsichtslos'. A six-minute tobogan ride that navigates from classic swing to contemporary bop, including a short resting point as a transition to the next action scene. 'Trip The Light Fantastic' is an example of a skittish unfolding storyline with the three protagonists in equal leading roles. In Verbist's 'Pointing At The Moon', influences shine through from the bassist's fascination for flamenco, but it remains jazz in 2023, rooted in tradition. A more explicit example of all this is 'Bull'.

Carla Bley's 'Lawns' is the moment when the trio cautiously withdraws and spins together a very fragile tableau from the silence. More melodic poetry follows initially with 'The Same Melody' until the underlying swing tempo takes a slight turn. A bass solo and drum roll determine the tone of 'For Less Than Nothing' until Weijters subtly enriches the colour palette on piano with his light touch.

They close with the musing 'Two For The Road' by Mancini and 'Contemplative' that gradually builds up to a climax.