Your favorite "obscure" piano trio recordings

[Joe]

"Obscure" just being my not wholly appropriate shorthand for recording about which you feel strongly but have never seen / heard anyone else discuss or recording you like to turn other listeners on to.

Trios of all eras, styles and constitutions welcome. Household names? Forgotten heroes? Eternal sidemen finally stepping out? Ditto old favorites and new discoveries.

An initial trio of trios:

Don Friedman, CIRCLE WALTZ

I suppose I hear the Bill Evans connection... or is it one that is jut easy to make based on the presence here of Chuck Israels? Mostly what I hear, however, is a much hard-driving ensemble than Evans was wont to put together around this time, exploring different -- more stark, more jagged; lunar, not moony -- harmonic terrain.

John Bikerton, SHADOW BOXES

Bickerton seems not to have much of a presence on the scene these days, and I'd be curious to hear what he is up to these days. But hat we have here is evidence of a pianist who knows his Andrew Hill without being too beholden to Hill's simultaneously contemplative and restless style.

Amina Claudine Myers, THE CIRCLE OF TIME

Some may find her vocals (and lyrics) off-putting, and some may prefer her Bessie Smith or Marion Brown recitals, but, as this was the first Myers LP I ever heard, I have something of a sentimental attachment to it. Besides, I think it shows off the wide-ranging (fearless?) soulfulness of her playing as well as anything I've heard by her.

Looking forward to seeing what others have to contribute.

[Sundog]

Don't recall any discussion of this one. One of my favorite recent discoveries.

Wolfgang Dauner Trio- Dream Talk

[GA Russell]

I used to feel that way about the Richard Twardzik date which was released on PJ as The Last Set, but since it was included in the Mosaic PJ Trios Select, I guess it doesn't qualify anymore.

[paul secor]

Not much energy to think/look right now, but here are a few - not sure how "obscure" they are:

Sadik Hakim Trio: Witches, Goblins, et.

Elmo Hope Trio w. Philly Joe & John Ore

Walter Norris/Billy Bean/Hal Gaylor: The Trio

Edited December 29, 2009 by paul secor

[JSngry]

[mjzee]

Not sure this qualifies, since the pianist certainly isn't obscure, but this particular recording isn't discussed much:

Tommy Flanagan playing tunes written by his Detroit colleague, aided by Jesper Lundgaard and Lewis Nash. Sharp, focused, nice.

[JSngry]

[Noj]

A friend had that one on vinyl so when I saw the CD I snatched it up. It's a good 'un.

[JSngry]

[JSngry]

helladephia yes!

[Sundog]

These have probably been mentioned in the various "bossa" threads but they are all very fine piano trio albums that deserve a wider audience. Airto is wonderful on these albums.

[JSngry]

[marcello]

Buster Williams Trio

Houdini

Sirocco Jazz

By Josef Woodard

Houdini (Sirocco 1014; 59:52), by Buster Williams' Trio is framed by two versions of the title tune, an alternately driving and pensive piece. The first is credited to Williams, pianist Geri Allen and drummer Lenny White, while the closing take is credited to Williams alone. That may indicate some of the porous, collective dynamic in this potent piano trio, in which Allen's playing is notably strong and imaginative, while Williams' sturdy vision shines through. It's a well-balanced song set, between standards like "If I Should Lose You" and "Little Girl Blue" (with Williams taking the melody) and Williams' originals, ranging from the lovely ballad "Bellodgia Diva" to the teasing light swing and hard-bop colors of "Ouija Board," full of the bassist's characteristic nimbleness and verve. Things get especially fiery on their version of Herbie Hancock's increasingly heated "The Sorcerer," and they veer into more ethereal terrain with Wayne Shorter's classic, dreamy ballad "Fall," with Williams' lines tumbling around the landscape like a restless dancer.

[Sundog]

Håvard Wilk - The Arcades Project

[Larry Kart]

Great album, but it's a quartet in numbers, concept, and execution -- Attila Zoller being handsomely present.

[Larry Kart]

Randy Weston -- Piano A-La-Mode (Jubilee); now part of the Mosaic Select

Pete Jolly -- When Lights Are Low (RCA)

The trio side of Duke Jordan's Trio and Quintet (Signal)

[AndrewHill]

The Contemporary Jazz Classics of the Paul Moer Trio-Del Fi

Elvira Plenar Trio w/ Peter Kowald and John Betsch: I was Just...-Free Flow Production

[brownie]

The Complete John Williams On EmArcy, a double LP reissue from EmArcy Japan.

Great pianist who played and recorded with Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, Al Cohn, Jimmy Raney and others.

Fresh Sound reissued the master takes from the sessions

[B. Goren.]

I've always thought that Dodo Marmarosa deserves much more attention than he really gets.

[sidewinder]

This early one by Gordon Beck on the Major/Minor label is hard to beat -

Edited December 29, 2009 by sidewinder

[mikelz777]

John Wright - South Side Soul

[BillF]

Introducing Carl Perkins is a great favorite. (Don't know if he passes the obscurity test, though!)

[Alexander Hawkins]

Not sure it's obscure as some, but I think the Max Roach Trio 'featuring the Legendary Hasaan' is pretty wonderful.

[John Tapscott]

Richie Beirach - Elegy for Bill Evans (Palo Alto). Have it on LP, would love to get the CD if it exists - a great record.

[A Lark Ascending]

Keith Tippett, Roy Babbington, Frank Perry in the very early 70s.

Something more recent.

About time we had a new recording from this wonderful player.