Casey Golden (pno); Bill Williams (bs); Ed Rodrigues (dms/perc).(Review by Lance).
Contemporary trio of young Australian musicians based in Sydney playing original pieces composed by Golden. The pianist began studying classical piano at the age of 5 and much of that early knowledge seems to have stayed with him even though by the time he was 17 he'd won a BBM (Big Brother Movement Youth Support) Award enabling him to study in London with various jazz musicians. This was in 2005 and his teachers included John Taylor, Kit Downes and Gwilym Simcock.
On his return to Sydney, he completed a Bachelor of Music majoring in jazz piano, and a Bachelor of Arts, both degrees earned with Distinction, from the University of New South Wales.
Outliers is Golden's second album and his first with the current trio. The themes are interesting, often with repetitive motifs reminiscent of EST and other contemporary piano icons. His playing is angular and agile, rarely choosing the linear, rich, chordal patterns of his predecessors - if Bach had been the jazzman they said he would have been had he been born 250 years later (in New York) then he may well have played like this. What is sure is that if Golden and JS "Mighty" B had met up in a Sydney Bar they would have commandeered the old upright in the corner and traded choruses - each learning from the other!
Not that this is a one man show - no Master/Serfs set up here. Each musician has his own distinctive voice frequently moving in different directions but never divergent enough to jar the senses or to detract from the overall mood. Rodrigues complements Golden's extravagances by either laying back or exploding as the composition demands. Williams, as sound as a middle order Aussie batsman, ensures there will be no follow on although, from a musical point of view, we hope there will be in the form of another recording!
Released January 20.
Lance.
PS: The fantastic cover art - and I use the word advisedly - is by Ron Frenz (Marvel/DC Comics).
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