The new album from pianist
Benjamin Taubkin
's trio plus trumpeter
Joatan Nascimento
pitches itself somewhere between invitation and challenge. There's plenty to stretch the ear and the mind, but also enough heartbreakingly lovely melodies to capture the listener's love. Recorded live, the sonic clarity is astonishing, especially on the piano, where you can almost hear each key depressed. Despite
Taubkin
's base in Brazil, the music isn't Brazilian, with the exception of the final cut, a take on
"Solace,"
co-written by two greats,
Baden Powell
and
Vinicius de Moraes
. But this quartet puts its own stamp on everything, often diving into the unexpected, like
's delightfully minimalist solo on
"Pearls"
or
Sergio Reze
's delirious percussion on
"Baianinho."
Nascimento
's trumpet and fluegelhorn are perfect foils for the piano, whether they're playing in unison or sparking off each other. However, the centerpiece here has to be
"The Sabia Flew,"
which also features
Fernando Sardo
"playing amazing instruments built by himself." It's a glorious piece of work, building from a dreamlike beginning into a nautical mode, with quotes from
"A Life on the Ocean Wave"
"Drunken Sailor"
as it pitches and rolls between sections. Since dialogue is the all-important feature here, it's no surprise that this is a live recording, and all the better for it.
Trio + 1
releases its joys slowly, but it's well worth the time and the journey. ~ Chris Nickson