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Gerry Gibbs: Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio
ByGerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio presents a huge piece of work, 15 tracks spanning 74 minutes that would consume a double-vinyl album set. These include four new Gibbs originals: Musical portraits of Carter ("Here Comes Ron"), pianists McCoy Tyner ("When I Dream") and Don Pullen ("The Thrasher"), and Gibbs' wife ("The Woman on the Television Screen").
The considerable grasp and reach of this Dream Trio is immediately evident: Three of their first four tracks brilliantly juxtapose compositions by Thelonious Monk, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and Johnny Mandel. Gibbs retains Carter's arrangement from a mid-70s recording of "Epistrophy" with Barron and Monk drummer Ben Riley; Barron's improvisation scales different, new heights in this familiar song while Carter and Gibbs seem to delight in trying to tie each other in rhythmic knots. Barron's piano beautifully sings "Promises, Promises," passing Bacharach's winsome melody lightly and expertly through his fingers while Carter and Gibbs weave a dance, almost a waltz, between them. Like "Epistrophy," it subsequently opens to spotlight Carter's strident walking bass, shaded by Gibbs' brushes on snare and Barron's distant, gentle chords. Barron's piano also colors Mandel's timeless "The Shadow of Your Smile" in warm, glowing reds and cool, soft blues.
Later in the set, Gibbs programs two adventurous Herbie Hancock tunes back to back. While Gibbs' playing (especially his cymbals and snare) often suggests a dance or a dancer, he arranges Hancock's frantic "The Eye of the Hurricane" to spotlight his torrid, bone-crunching breaks; the trio moves more somberly through darkness and shadow in "Tell Me a Bedtime Story."
Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio is a trio albumnot only a piano trio, but a genuine unified ensemble of three equal voicesof exceptional vision, dexterity and energy.
Track Listing
Epistrophy; Promises, Promises; When I Dream; The Shadow of Your Smile; The Woman on the T.V. Screen; The Eye of the Hurricane; Tell Me a Bedtime Story; A Feeling; Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing; Sunshower; Here Comes Ron; Impressions; The Thrasher; Mr. Clean; The Theme.
Personnel
Kenny Barron: piano; Ron Carter: bass; Gerry Gibbs: drums.
Album information
Title: Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Whaling City Sound
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