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?

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Marou

This Here - Bobby Timmons, Jimmy Cobb, Sam Jones

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Chag...

- Ahmad Jamal; Complete Live at the Pershing Lounge 1958: Subtlety of silences.

- Keith Jarrett; At the Blue Note, Standards, The Out-of-Towners..: Eclectism of influences and rhythm.

- Brad Mehldau; Art of the Trio Vol. 1, 2 & 3: Touch full of nuances and tempo.

- Cecil Taylor; Jazz Advance: True genesis of Free (I am sorry Ornette).

- Paul Bley; Closer: Melodic pulse and free details (Ornette is close..).

 

Shouldn't we present our selections in a few words? Then let's have more fun and review the quartets, possibly the most achieved forms of modern jazz, and the quintets -

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Yippedidou
Originally Posted by Chag...:

Shouldn't we present our selections in a few words? Then let's have more fun and review the quartets, possibly the most achieved forms of modern jazz, and the quintets -

I agree so here it is for my original first post

 

Michel Petrucciani - Trio in Tokyo... What is obvious here is the synergy between the players. Those guys have worked together many times before and it shows. Petrucciani is in top form, jazzin like you never heard it. Has his own style. His left hand is incredible, always on paste and elaborate. The sound of the bass is absolutely gorgeous... electric bass at its best... Its my tester BTW. You want to know what is PRAT? Check track no 3. Ze best example IMO. Don't forget, this is LIVE music

 

Kenny Barron - Live at Bradley's... Bradley's is a small NY jazz club that is now closed... Sadly. Read here: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10...-jazz-club-dies.html  This jazz club never accepted drummers but they made a couple of exceptions and these sets are one of them (CD sums up 3 nights of jazz). Perfectly played classic jazz with all the dynamics and balance to show. Kenny Barron is not well known but he's a giant IMHO.

 

Eric Watson - Conspiracy... One word... Wow! Check it out, this is a crazy one, Not all will like. Dynamics and performance at its best. From an american jazz pianist who now lives in France... One of my favorites but not your every day jazz gig.... You need to be top shape to listen to this one...

 

Chag... I suggest you start a thread on quartets

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Yippedidou
Originally Posted by PDavid:

Alan Broadbent with Brian Bromberg and Joe LaBarbera is also very nice !

 

Alan Broadbent is a great jazz pianist. I love the work he's done with Charlie Haden's Quartet West. Not many people know him. I think he is one of the most fluid pianist. There is a record where he really shines IMO... Alan Broadbent/Gary Foster... Concord Duo Series, volume 4. I'm listening to it right now... Woweeee Just listen to the 1st track and remember.. it's a duo... He's doing the bass line with his left hand and the melody with the right. Incredible tecnique and timing and yet, so fluid. This when I love my naim kit!!!

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
...

Eric Watson - Conspiracy... One word... Wow! Check it out, this is a crazy one, Not all will like. Dynamics and performance at its best. From an american jazz pianist who now lives in France... One of my favorites but not your every day jazz gig.... You need to be top shape to listen to this one...

...

You'll love this. I've had this album for 25 years or so and have never listened to it, at least not that I recall. Now I have it pulled to clean and play.

 

Sadly, I don't have a turntable right now. I've been unhappy with my Rega RP3/Dynavector 20x2H and took it back to the dealer, but I'll be ordering a Clearaudio Performance this week or so.

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Yippedidou
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
...

Eric Watson - Conspiracy... One word... Wow! Check it out, this is a crazy one, Not all will like. Dynamics and performance at its best. From an american jazz pianist who now lives in France... One of my favorites but not your every day jazz gig.... You need to be top shape to listen to this one...

...

You'll love this. I've had this album for 25 years or so and have never listened to it, at least not that I recall. Now I have it pulled to clean and play.

 

Sadly, I don't have a turntable right now. I've been unhappy with my Rega RP3/Dynavector 20x2H and took it back to the dealer, but I'll be ordering a Clearaudio Performance this week or so.

lol... You want me to send my cd... You're in for a ride, this guy can play piano, believe me...

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
 

lol... You want me to send my cd... You're in for a ride, this guy can play piano, believe me...

Thanks, no. I'll have my a turntable soon enough. The record is in the queue for a ride on the Okki Nokki. 

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Yippedidou
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
 

lol... You want me to send my cd... You're in for a ride, this guy can play piano, believe me...

Thanks, no. I'll have my a turntable soon enough. The record is in the queue for a ride on the Okki Nokki. 

What a shame! I tought I had a chance to convert you ... Tell me what you think when you're able to listen to it... I have it right now from the Mac Mini through the Diverter HR and the nDac... Love it every time I listen to it.... Great, great jazz.

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Tony2011

Egberto Gismonti Trio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZB7j3fK1io

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
 

lol... You want me to send my cd... You're in for a ride, this guy can play piano, believe me...

Thanks, no. I'll have my a turntable soon enough. The record is in the queue for a ride on the Okki Nokki. 

What a shame! I tought I had a chance to convert you ... Tell me what you think when you're able to listen to it... I have it right now from the Mac Mini through the Diverter HR and the nDac... Love it every time I listen to it.... Great, great jazz.

 

I have a ND5 XS, and even with 24/96 or 24/192 streams, vinyl rules it every time. 

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
 

Thanks, no. I'll have my a turntable soon enough. The record is in the queue for a ride on the Okki Nokki. 


RT

Ooophs! Glad you're getting a new TT as the O.N. costs as much as your P3. Your records deserve much better after going through some "serious "beauty treatment" in my humble opinion.

 

KR

Tony

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Tony2011:
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
 

Thanks, no. I'll have my a turntable soon enough. The record is in the queue for a ride on the Okki Nokki. 


RT

Ooophs! Glad you're getting a new TT as the O.N. costs as much as your P3. Your records deserve much better after going through some "serious "beauty treatment" in my humble opinion.

 

KR

Tony

 

My turntable (RP3/TTPSU/DV20x2) wasn't cheap. But my collection of 2500+ LPs certainly deserves the fine baths I give it on the ON. I home auditioned a Clearaudio Concept/Concept MC. With that I stopped listening to gear and started listening to music again. I think I'll be in heaven with a Performance SEP/Maestro Wood. 

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by Tony2011

Apologies if I caused any  consternation. That was not my intention. I wish all the happinness in the world with your new system set up.

KR

Tony

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Tony2011:

Apologies if I caused any  consternation. That was not my intention. I wish all the happinness in the world with your new system set up.

KR

Tony

Oh, not at all. You misread me if you felt that, and I'm sorry in that case. It's all good. 

 

The truth of the matter is I have a sub with my Dyn Contour S1.4s and the Rega just likes to interact with it too much. It sounds fine under normal circumstances, but I got tired of fighting it. I don't want a suspended table because I don't want to keep it adjusted right (had a LP12...too much effort for me).

Posted on: 07 May 2012 by RaceTripper

Back on topic...

Tete Montoliu, "Tête à Tete"
SteepleChase SCS-1054

 

Posted on: 13 May 2012 by Felix H

McCoy Tyner with Stanly Clarke and Al Foster:

 

I don't know if this is top three of all time, but... I have to say these guys are making great music together - a real trio record!

 

 

Not available on vinyl.

F

Posted on: 14 May 2012 by Geoff P

There are far too many 'top' Jazz pianists to limit it to three. The following are not THE top 3 but a few that have not been mentioned much yet.

 

Bit of a cheat but worth seeking out:



Oscar Peterson and Count Basie playing piano together on quite a few recorded sessions of which 'Satch & Josh' is the first one they made. Great contrast between styles. Oscar adapts his soloing so it is not the usual flood of notes more in keeping with Basie who has this sparse but very clever solo style.

Another Jamal fan here:



THis one is from a while back. My LP is dated 1986. Excellent recording. Has a slightly ethereal feeling to the music which is engaging. Compositions by Jamal himself.

Somewhat buried under his TV fame as a comedian:



Actually he plays a mean Jazz piano. Some of the longer tracks on here such as 'Blues Boots' and  'Sooz Blues' are inventive and allow him to stretch out and show his creativity.

regards
Geoff

Posted on: 14 May 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Bart:
Originally Posted by mutterback:

You should take a listen to the Brad Mehldau trio.

I certainly agree.

 

 

Seconded. I mean thirded. A more modern feel than some of the other recommendations here, but they're very good. I particularly like that some of their tracks are anchored in popular melodies (Radiohead, Beatles and Nick Drake come to mind). For me, it makes it more easily accessible with a familiar riff in amongst the jazz improvisation. Also check out Brad's work with Pat Metheney. This is excellent....

 

 

 

OK, not a trio, but really, really good.

Posted on: 17 May 2012 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
Originally Posted by Yippedidou:
 

lol... You want me to send my cd... You're in for a ride, this guy can play piano, believe me...

Thanks, no. I'll have my a turntable soon enough. The record is in the queue for a ride on the Okki Nokki. 

What a shame! I tought I had a chance to convert you ... Tell me what you think when you're able to listen to it... I have it right now from the Mac Mini through the Diverter HR and the nDac... Love it every time I listen to it.... Great, great jazz.

 

So I finally gave my Eric Watson "Conspiracy" album a listen. I put a 25 yr. old Goldring Electro II LZ cartridge on my RP3/TTPSU while I wait for my new turntable, and it actually works and sounds pretty decent.

 

I think the music and playing is very good, but not great in regards to my overall collection. I'm glad to have the record. It's something I'll play again. I think if you really like this, you'll probably like McCoy Tyner. Watson's playing reminds me of McCoy's post-Coltrane Quartet playing.

Posted on: 28 May 2012 by Yippedidou

Thanks for your comment RT. I particularly like the dynamism and energy expressed in that recording...

I would like to add one more:

Ana Fort Trio, And if

It is gorgeous...

 

Also not a trio but discovered recently:

Ben Allison, Action-Refraction


Cheers!

Posted on: 29 May 2012 by Richard D

Sir Roland Hanna, Ron Carter & Grady Tate.

Apres un Reve

 

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by Yippedidou

RT (Race Tripper) mentionned it on the 1st reply of this thread... Bills Evans - Waltz for Debbie. Revisiting this marvelous session from almost 52 years now (recorded in 1961) and I can't believe how fresh it still is. Magic and very involving ... hearing the crowd talk throughout the whole recording, you can almost feel the place, as if you were there.

Fantastic bass playing by Scott LaFaro and the drum is in the subtle hands of the late Paul Motian.

Please pay yourself a treat and play this gem of another time yet so actual...

Cheers

Yip

Posted on: 28 December 2012 by RaceTripper

+1

 

Nothing has changed in my mind. This still stands as one of the greatest trio sessions of all time.

Posted on: 31 December 2012 by fred simon

I love Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Bobo Stenson, Tord Gustavsen, Marcin Wasilewski, Bill Evans, Larry Goldings, Eliane Elias, Herbie Hancock, chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, and so many others, but lately I just can't stop listening to this exquisite piano trio album: My New Old Friend by Alan Pasqua ... sublime!

 

 

Incidentally, it was recorded by my friend, Rich Breen (who has also recorded several of my own albums), and in addition to the superb music, it's one of the best sounding piano recordings I've ever heard.

Posted on: 31 December 2012 by DrMark

To my mind Oscar Peterson is the giant of the genre.