Swing when you’re winning
The slant is swinging straightaheadism. And they are indeed winning. The American trio’s latest record marks more than 35 years of collaboration and sees the group reinterpret compositions by major jazz figures including Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Abdullah Ibrahim (who died recently), Thelonious Monk and Irving Berlin.
Recorded at Second Take Sound in Manhattan’s Midtown and produced by Paul Stache who clearly has an insight into the close study of intuitive touch, the album blends standards with original material while pushing beyond the conventions of the traditional organ trio format.
Opening track ‘Everything That Lives Laments’, written by Jarrett – it was on The Mourning of a Star – sets an introspective tone. But this while a serious album isn’t about cry in your beer antics or the equivalent of a misery memoir. Larry Goldings’ Jimmy Smith like romping elsewhere pervasively sees to that.
Other selections include Randy Weston’s perky ‘Hi-Fly’, Shorter’s glorious Etcetera piece ‘Penelope’, Ibrahim’s ‘Mamma’ and Monk’s ‘In Walked Bud.’
Bernstein also contributes an original composition, ‘Dissipation Blues’, described as a reflection on the current political climate. No, me neither: I’m none the wiser as to meaning. But it is mighty and fits right in with the pedigree standards. Chum, have a gander below at some live footage of the piece in the video.
Being comfortable, you’re prepared to take more chances, which is what improvisational music is all about
says Bernstein
I have tried extremely hard to find something negative to inanely type and be snide about concerning this album “for the sake of balance”, to try to sound less of a fanboy and persuade you dear reader that no the cheque isn’t in the post or that I am a ventriloquist’s dummy parroting PR patter yet again. Reader I fail.
Smoke Sessions seems to be the pack leader in the provision of straightahead label releases by assorted love cats nudging out SteepleChase at the moment given this and the wonderful new Steve Wilson release have already appeared in 2026.
See top albums of the year so far which this album also now keeps good company with.
Is Rhombus better than the equally excellent New Mantra from John Hart which is guitar, bass and drums, roughly the same style with things like Monk’s ‘Reflections’ on it and sharing a kindred taste?
Actually yes I even think it is. That’s because of this new un’s extra buoyancy, cleaner sonics and immediacy. But nevertheless certainly anyone into Hart will I think like what Bernstein does here. Stewart’s work is also even more interesting than his own Live at the Vanguard album last year.
