Top 3 - Best jazz piano-bass-drums trio (on cd or vinyl)
Posted by: Yippedidou on 04 May 2012
Mine are...
Michel Petrucciani - Trio in Tokyo
Kenny Barron - Live at Bradley's
Eric Watson - Conspiracy
What are yours?
Bill Evans Trio, "Waltz For Debby"
Bill Evans Trio, "Sunday At The Village Vanguard"
Both on Riverside Records
The Analogue Productions 45 RPM vinyl reissues are the ones to have
Oscar Peterson, "We Get Requests" on Verve
The 45 RPM Vinyl reissue from Analogue Productions/QRP is simply awesome.
Quite different than my first thought (Evans) when I think of piano-bass-drums, and absolutely brilliant:
Ellington/Mingus/Roach, Money Jungle
I just put it on now, thanks for the inspiration.
Keith Jarrett Trio
E.S.T
I tend to like some brass as well when listening to jazz, but I can make one contribution:
Thelonious Monk - piano, Oscar Pettiford - bass, Art Blakey - drums
To be honest any time Blakey and Monk were together it works for me.
I must give the Ellington, Mingus and Roach a try, sounds very interesting.
Oscar Peterson and Monty Alexander have led some nice trios, always good stuff when Ray Brown or NHOP are around.
Quite different than my first thought (Evans) when I think of piano-bass-drums, and absolutely brilliant:
...
Honestly, any Bill Evans with Scott LaFaro rates at the top.
I am lucky enough that my wife bought me for XMas '11 the Bill Evans "Complete Riverside Recordings" in that great 45 RPM box of Analogue Production's German-pressed remasters. The whole set (11 albums on 22 180g LPs) is simply fantastic.
This is a great thread. As a big fan of jazz piano, particularly the piano-bass-drums instrumentation, I'm grateful for all of these suggestions.
You should take a listen to the Brad Mehldau trio.
And while you're at it, check out Carla Bley to stretch the genre.
I like her duets with Steve Swallow best (heard them live once - fantastic.) She had a trio with him and Andy Sheppard, and recorded Songs With Legs live I believe.
In the same jazz genealogy, take a listen to Steve Swallow and Paul Motian's Electric Bebop band. Included Joshua Redmond on tenor on one tour I saw, which was again amazing.
You should take a listen to the Brad Mehldau trio.
I certainly agree.
And I will offer up Julian Joseph. Not all of his recordings are trios certainly, but this one is fantastic:
The Ramsey Lewis Trio
Ramsey Lewis - Steinway concert grand piano & Fender Rhodes electric piano
Cleveland Eaton - acoustical bass & electric bass
Morris Jennings - drums & percussion
The few RL albums i've listened to so far sound fabulous imo,
On vinyl: Upendo Ni Pamoja, In Chicago, Three Piece Suite, and -
On Spotify: Time Flies.
But are they jazzy enough for you fussy forum folk? ...or too funky fusion mix?
Which Ramsey Lewis albums are the most recommended?
Debs
Quite different than my first thought (Evans) when I think of piano-bass-drums, and absolutely brilliant:
...
Honestly, any Bill Evans with Scott LaFaro rates at the top.
No argument from me. Great stuff indeed, and my #1 trio as well.
Jarrett's trio with Peacock/DeJohnette is really special as well.
Anyone heard to Marc Cary's trio Focus? After listening to this one I'm surprised he hasn't made his big breakthrough.
I just happen to be listening to the Horace Parlan Trio's "Us Three" on Blue Note 84037 (Music Matters 45 RPM remaster).
No one ever rates Horace Parlan as a giant of jazz, but his trio (with George Tucker, Al Harewood) never disappoints.
Quartet
Bill Evans with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian is also my favourite. I also like Keith Jarrett.
Alan Broadbent with Brian Bromberg and Joe LaBarbera is also very nice !
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:
Which Ramsey Lewis albums are the most recommended?
The In Crowd is probably most famous tune out of his discography.
"Sun Goddess" is also a funky tune often covered by Earth, Wind & Fire and "Spring High" by Stevie Wonder from "Love Notes".
Thanks, Kuma.
Nice, ...giving 'em a listen on spotify : )
Debs
I don't know so much about jazz but this is a good one: Trio Töykeät ”Wake”
... and here is a sample
Have to add this since I just put it on....
Vince Guaraldi Trio (of Charlie Brown soundtrack fame, in case you don't know)
"Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus"
Fantasy 8089 (Analogue Productions 45 RPM remaster)
Keith Jarrett - The Cure (for the version of Blame It On My Youth)
Oscar Peterson - Throw a dart at a list of his albums through the 1950s to early 1970s and you'll get something good.
Earl Hines - Hits He Missed. A limited edition Direct Cut LP from the 1980s, as I recall, where Hines covers Ellington through to Zawinul......
I prefer Peterson's guitar trios, though. Look for the early live recordings with Barney Kessel, and later with Herb Ellis.
Too much good stuff around to stick to three:
E.S.T.: Live in Hamburg and others
Keith Jarrett: At the blue note, Tokyo 96, Standards in Norway and others
Brad Mehldau: Ode, Live and others
Oscar Peterson: We get request and others
Tingvall Trio: Vattensaga and others
Yaron Herman: Follow the white Rabbit
Of course Bill Evans
........
Let me know if you need 20 more