Your favorite "obscure" piano trio recordings

[Alexander Hawkins]

I must check out that Ovary Lodge recording!

[Larry Kart]

I agree on the John Williams compilation. (Williams is of course not be confused with the film and TV composer, who recorded as a jazz pianist in the late '50s on the West Coast under his given name John Towner.) BTW, our John Williams eventually moved to Hollywood, Florida, where he became a longtime public official and eventually had a park named after him:

http://www.hollywoodfl.org/parks_rec/northwest_parks.htm

[jlhoots]

Valdo Williams: New Advanced Jazz

[B. Goren.]

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

Beatiful music.

This one can also be added to the list:

[Mark Stryker]

Varying levels of obscurity here, but these come to mind quickly:

Kenny Werner, "Introducing the Trio" (Sunnyside) with Ratzo Harris and Tom Rainey.

http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Trio-Kenny-Werner/dp/B0000035YB/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262102201&sr=1-18

Hal Galper, "Tippin'" (Concord) with Wayne Dockery and Steve Ellington

http://www.amazon.com/Tippin-Hal-Galper-Trio/dp/B0000006LK/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262102417&sr=1-11

Mal Waldron, "Impressions" (New Jazz) with Addison Farmer and Tootie Heath

http://www.amazon.com/Impressions-Mal-Waldron-Trio/dp/B000000Y7O/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262102762&sr=1-6

Roy Haynes, "We Three" (New Jazz) with Phineas Newborn and Paul Chambers

http://www.amazon.com/We-Three-Roy-Haynes/dp/B000OLHG5M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262103222&sr=1-3

Wynton Kelly, "Kelly at Midnight" (VeeJay) with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones

http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-at-Midnight-Wynton/dp/B000024YHV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262103378&sr=1-1

Paul Bley, "Footloose" (Savoy) with Steve Swallow and Pete LaRoca

http://www.amazon.com/Footloose-Paul-Bley/dp/B000001CQZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262103770&sr=1-1

Hank Jones, "The Oracle" (Emarcy) with Dave Holland and Billy Higgins

http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Jones-Holland-Billy-Higgins/dp/B0000047B2/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262103641&sr=1-26

Also, I second Stanley Cowell's "Illusion Suite."

[Joe]

Thanks all. Some great selections here. Count me as another fan of the Cowell, Beck, Perkins and TRIANGLE dates, at least.

Another one I wish was better-known...

Walter Norris, LOVE EVERY MOMENT

If all you know about Norris is based on his presence on Ornette's SOMETHING ELSE, you owe it to yourself to check out his later work.

[BillF]

As the meaning of "obscure" gets more and more all-embracing as this thread develops, the way is now open for me to mention that I've placed an order for the 1954 Al Haig Trio date which is now available on One Day Session (Fresh Sound). Curiously, although I've been aware of these sides for fifty years, I've never heard them, but I've a feeling I'm not going to be disappointed.

[paul secor]

Lorraine Geller at the Piano

Jaki Byard Trio: July in Paris (Ricky Ford makes it a quartet on one cut, but the rest is a trio.)

[AndrewHill]

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

Really like this one too, but for Max's exemplary drumming more so than Hasaan's.

[Dave James]

Any of Swedish pianist Jan Johansson's trio recordings. That guy packed more music into his short life of 32 years than just about anyone I can think of. And, speaking of musicians who died young, how about Englishman Mike Taylor? Both these guys had fairly unique approaches to their instrument.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

John Wright - South Side Soul

Absolutely - to which I would add John Wright's

Nice 'n tasty - Prestige (reissued in Japan several years ago - but maybe Hiroshi can get it; he got one for me a couple of years back)

Mr Soul - Prestige (OJC) (well, this one's gone, too, but shouldn't be too hard to find)

Wright has a beautiful touch.

MG

Roy Haynes, "We Three" (New Jazz) with Phineas Newborn and Paul Chambers

http://www.amazon.com/We-Three-Roy-Haynes/dp/B000OLHG5M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262103222&sr=1-3

Definitely knobs on to that one! A terrific version of "After hours" in there.

Also, three albums Phieas made for Contemporary with Ray Brown and Elvin Jones.

Please send me someone to love (Feb 1969)

Harlem blues (Feb 1969)

Back home (Sep 1976)

These three and "We 3" are by a long chalk my favourite Phieas albums.

All were available on OJC but have probably gone by now.

MG

Don't ask where the ns went

MG

[Brad]

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.

Think I have this. Any Tommy is generally good.

[jazzbo]

Gets a little attention but not enough.

[AndrewHill]

I think we should start a new thread: are there any pictures of Mal Waldron where he is NOT smoking a cigarette

[Dave James]

Jessica Williams is another very accomplished player who is easily overlooked. The two volumes of her live recordings at Yoshi's are particularly nice.

[JohnS]

In addition to the above I'd say that Claude williamson's Bethlehem/Capitol trio dates are well worth a listen.

For something more modern what about Myra Melford's recordings on Enemy.

[B. Goren.]

Jessica Williams is another very accomplished player who is easily overlooked. The two volumes of her live recordings at Yoshi's are particularly nice.

I tend to agree with you and I can say the same about Mulgrew Miller and his recordings at Yoshi's.

[mikeweil]

Kenny Werner, "Introducing the Trio" (Sunnyside) with Ratzo Harris and Tom Rainey. 

http://www.amazon.co...2102201&sr=1-18

Also, I second Stanley Cowell's "Illusion Suite."

I third it, and love the Kenny Werner - their take on "I Hear A Rhapsody is magnificent"! 

One that comes to my mind is a David Lopato trio CD - have to pull it out first ... 

[JohnS]

I'll recommned Kenny Werner too. Most of his trio cds have some sparkling piano.

[jazzbo]

I think we should start a new thread: are there any pictures of Mal Waldron where he is NOT smoking a cigarette

Hey, that's a "little cigar," a cigarillo I think they're called. (I'm a non-smoker now for 19.5 years, former HEAVY smoker).

[sidewinder]

This one is nice:

Edited December 30, 2009 by sidewinder

[paul secor]

Burton Greene Trio (Wilber Morris & Lou Grassi): Throptics

Not a perfect record, but there's some interesting stuff on this one.

[Joe]

Re: John Wright (count me as a fan as well) and Chicago pianists who remain relatively unknown... there's also a fine King Fleming Trio record on Chess, MISTY NIGHT.

A Japanese CD issue exists, or once existed. Not sure about the later STAND BY, though, which features some very early work from Malachi Favors.

Perhaps Larry, Chuck or John Litweiler could speak more to Fleming's relationship with Favors, Muhal Richard Abrams, and the seeds of the AACM?

Edited December 30, 2009 by Joe

[B. Goren.]

Francesca Tanksley who played for years with Billy Harpar, also deserves more attention.

I'll be happy to learn from you if she still plays with Harper.

[Peter Friedman]

Piano Trios are a specialty of mine. Here are some of my favorite CDs by musicians who have a low profile, and whose recordings deserve, in my opinion,

to be heard. I don't believe any of these have been previously mentioned in this thread.

Frank Strazzeri Trio - I Remember You - Fresh Sound

Jodie Christian Trio - Blues Holiday - Steeplechase

Hugh Lawson Trio - Prime Time - Storyville

Bertha Hope Trio - Nothin' But Love - Reservoir

Jan Lundgren Trio - Cookin' At The Jazz Bakery - Fresh Sound

Michael Weiss Trio - Milestones - Steeplechase

Vince Benedetti Trio - JHM

Dino Losito Trio - Like That - Bass On Top

Peter Beets Trio - New York trio - Criss Cross