CD Review: VEIN - The Chamber Music Effect

Michael Arbenz (piano), Thomas Lähns (bass) & Florian Arbenz (drums & tabla)

(Review by Russell).

VEIN’s new album traverses the history of the jazz piano trio from Bill Evans to the present with a nonchalance that is the preserve of the supremely gifted. An all-original album of eight tracks with  writing credits shared between the musicians (primarily the Arbenz brothers) The Chamber Music Effect  pays homage to the jazz piano trio format and seeks to explore and extend possibilities as jazz moves into its second century.

The Swiss trio claim to have taken a university-of-life route into the world of jazz. A classical music training doesn’t appear to have been a hindrance in gaining admittance to the club (the jazz club)! VEIN possess all the technique and it is the execution of ideas that places them a cut above. From the opening Boarding the Beat (comp. Florian Arbenz) to the closing Ballet of the Monkeys (comp. Michael Arbenz) their collective jazz chops are in evidence. Sandwiched in between are reflective chamber pieces (the Bill Evans’ influence), virtuosic flights (bassist Thomas Lähns’ solo on Michael Arbenz’s Sheherazade) and Florian Arbenz’s In Medias Res (imagine the Mahavishnu Orchestra in full flight tackling the baroque).

Vein or VEIN formed around a decade ago and their 2014 album Vote for Vein won the trio greater recognition on the British jazz scene. The Chamber Music Effect promises to win further accolades. The Chamber Music Effect by Vein (catalogue no. UTR 4716) is available now. The trio with their special guest Greg Osby can be heard tonight Monday 22 May at the Pizza Express, Dean Street, London. For details of forthcoming concerts visit www.vein.ch.                      

Russell.