The Tim Ray Trio backed Greg Abate on his 2019 album Gratitude - an album I subsequently chose as my Album of the Year.
Now, hearing them again, even without Greg, they're going to be in contention for this year's award.
Piano trios have huge mountains to climb, not least historical ones. How do you offer something new to listeners whose shelves are already stacked, wall to wall, with Peterson, Garner, Evans, Jarrett, Powell (Bud, Mel and Richie) and many others?
I don't know the answer although Tim Ray comes close to providing it. He's not a clone of any of the above greats, but he finds inspiration from them to create his own voice.
Like all of the great jazz pianists he can be explosive, sensitive, percussive, romantic, swinging, reflective and always harmonically sound. He's one of those players that have you asking, "Where have you been hiding all my life?" I guess he hasn't played Newcastle although, if Chris Yates had still been around and the Corner House had still been doing jazz then maybe he would have done.
Lockwood and Walker are the perfect team providing, solid support. Walker driving it along - ferociously at times - Lockwood the rock without which any band (and piano trios in particular) falter.
Just noted that Greg Abate plays the Globe on Nov. 5. Is it beyond my wildest dreams that he will bring this trio over with him? Sadly, it probably is! Lance
Bye-Ya; Stole Moments; NO Worries; The Meeting: The Jbug and the Kman; Mojave; Theodore the Thumper; Fire and Rain; Lawns; Moon in the Sea; Improv #1 (for Chick); Nighttime; The Windup; Fire and Rain (radio edit)
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