Album review: Joel Frahm Trio - Lumination (Anzic Records)

Joel Frahm (tenor sax); Dan Loomis (bass); Ernesto Cervini (drums)

When the word got out that the Joel Frahm Trio was embarking on a European tour with stops off in the UK at Eastleigh, London and Leeds I knew this would be worth dusting off my Senior Railcard for.

However, first things first, the raison d'être for the tour is Joel Frahm's latest album, Lumination, due for release next month. I'm listening to it as I type and it's an exhilarating experience.

Sonny Rollins set the benchmark by which pianoless, tenor sax led trios are judged and since then there seems to have been one on every block. However, few have met the criteria with as much aplomb as the Frahm Trio. At times, particularly on the uptempo numbers, the tenor player has a sound vaguely reminiscent of Dexter Gordon and, like Dexter, Frahm is not averse to slotting in a quote or two without losing momentum. A fast thinking, fast fingered player I got the impression that no matter how many notes he plays, and he usually plays plenty, each one is important.

Of course, although playing without chordal support gives you unfettered freedom it also takes away your safety net. This is the musical equivalent  of walking across Niagara on a tightrope. He doesn't get wet!

On bass Loomis is equally important. His solos offer contrast, picking up from Frahm without loss of tension. He is something else!

Meanwhile, à la batterie, Ernesto Cervini is, as always, the life and soul of the party. Driving with the sticks, simpatico with the brushes, Ernesto also composed the opener, The Nurse is in, designed the cover and, via his PR company Orange Grove Publicity, organised the tour. Some of the bass and drums exchanges are master classes for any rhythm section although in this trio, rhythm section, implying a them and us scenario, isn't really correct. This is a one for all, all for one, unit.

Now I'm going to listen again and count the days until I hear them live at Seven Arts, Leeds on Thursday Oct. 3. Lance   

The Nurse is in; Disco Nern; Loomie Nation; Moonface Lament; Loo-Lee; False Spring; Kern You Dig It; Na Estrada; Vesper Flights; Catch 22

European Tour
Saturday, September 28 - Herr Nilsen (Oslo, Norway)
Sunday, September 29 - Bimhuis (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Monday, September 30 - Masterclass @ the Guildhall School (London, UK)
Monday, September 30 - Pizza Express (London, UK)
Tuesday, October 1 - The Moldy Fig (Eastleigh, UK)
Thursday, October 3 - Seven Arts Leeds (Leeds, UK)
Friday, October 4 - Salon de Jazz (Cologne, Germany)
Saturday, October 5 - Jazz in der Mitte (Reutlingen, Germany)
Sunday, October 6 - Neimënster (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg)