CD Review: Brian Landrus Trio - The Deep Below.

Brian Landrus (bar/bs sax/bs clt/bs fl); Lonnie Plaxico (bs); Billy Hart (dms).
(Review by Lance).

As the title and the above listing implies this is all about the bass. Not just the double bass, brilliantly played here  by Plaxico, but, in the main, Landrus' armory of lower pitched instruments.

Baritone sax on 6 tracks, bass clarinet on 5, bass flute on 2 and bass sax on 1. He excels on all although the bass saxophone seemed to pose the greatest challenge - he came through bloodied but unbowed.

On baritone Landrus is at his most dextrous, sailing unaccompanied through Giant Steps with Coltranic ease, albeit with scant attention to the melody, and, paying tribute to the first grandmaster of the baritone, Harry Carney, on Sophisticated Lady. On others he clearly demonstrates his individual approach such as the romantic feel to Sinatra's I'm a Fool to Want You - could it be interpreted any other way? With the exception of Giant Steps and The Age this is very much the intimate album Landrus sought to create. The clarinet and flute tracks are delicate and explorative with Plaxico adding to the darkness of the mood. Billy Hart - who wowed everyone at GIJF 2015 with The Cookers is more subdued here but adds greatly to the overall picture.

Landrus stands 6'7" - "Physically the instruments fit me" he says. Listening to this I'd say they were tailormade!

Available from June 16 on Blueland Records.
YouTube.
Lance.