Laurence Hopgood (piano); Matthew Clohesy (bass); Jared Schonig (drums).
ETHEL: Ralph Farris (viola); Kip Jones (violin); Dorothy Lawson (cello); Corin Lee (violin).
(Review by Lance).
Described by pianist Hopgood as "third stream nouveau" - do we really need another genre? - tessaterra, a word of Hopgood's invention that roughly translates as "the sonic fabric of the world", features the former arranger, and associate of Kurt Elling, with his trio and a string quartet in support.
With such profundity and the improbably named string quartet - ETHEL - in attendance, I anticipated seven original compositions with bizarre titles such as Lucretia Borgia's Farewell Toast.
Fortunately, I was wrong. Seven compositions that were once original, albeit not by Hopgood, although his interpretations do present an alternative look at songs by Hoagy, Lennon & McCartney, Glen Campbell, Cole Porter, Freddy Chopin, Sting and Joan Baez.
It's one of those albums that's difficult to pigeonhole which is probably why he came up with his third stream nouveau niche. Whilst it's not quite Harlem Airshaft it's much much more than elevator music. Imagine having that late night drink, relaxing with a partner in the early hours without the distraction of Sinatra on the player. This will do it if the whiskey doesn't.
Hopgood is such a fine player that, personally, I'd be happy hearing him as part of the trio without the gut-scrapers. Having said that, Ethel are hip to the happenings and gel so well that perhaps their presence could draw in a wider audience - not Tesco but maybe Walmart.
Lance.
Wichita Lineman; Blackbird; Georgia on my Mind; Suite; Judy Blue Eyes; We Shall Overcome; All of You; Everything She Does is Magic
Available April 26 on Ubunti UBU0019.
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