MYRA MELFORD — Trio M : Big Picture (review)

MYRA MELFORD — Trio M : Big Picture album cover Album · 2007 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Virtuosic pianist Myra Melford's music represents a significant link between more traditional advanced jazz of AACM and modern adventurous eclectic jazz of New York and Chicago. Studied composition with Henry Threadgill,she plays melodic and accessible music,which is far from simple or straightforward.

Among many of her different projects,Trio M (with acoustic bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Matt Wilson) is probably the brightest example demonstrating her ability to connect old and new. On Trio M debut album "Big Picture" one can find members originals,mostly already played and recorded before with different line-ups, but here them all sounds different.

Myra herself plays strongly Cecil Taylor-influenced percussive piano,which doesn't sound aggressive at all though. Her playing is more tuneful and less rhythmic comparing with Taylor, and all compositions have strong melodic line as well. Free jazz bassist Mark Dresser in pair with tradition-rooted drummer Matt Wilson(who played with Dewey Redman,Cecil McBee and Lee Konitz among many others)surprisingly build well-tuned groovy rhythm section which leaves lot of internal freedom for well-framed songs.

Probably the main effect from albums music comes from that HOW this trio of equal musical partners play their music.Each separate song and the album in whole sounds as if it would be played by guitar power trio,just the music have been adapted for free jazz piano trio. In other words, groovy muscular rhythm section pushes music ahead still having it under control every moment, freer solos and rhythm changes are hidden vitriolically and resulting music sounds simple and quirky at the same time. Depending on listener's experience and preparing to accept it, one can hear here something what recalls The Bad Plus nu jazz (as mentioned one of album's listener on Amazon)or Henry Threadgill kind of avant-garde jazz.

In both cases listener usually enjoys a lot of what he's hearing.Perfect entry album for those coming from rock-jazz background and interested to dig freer jazz deeper as well.
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