Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Alan Benzie Trio: Traveller's Tales

15

Alan Benzie Trio: Traveller's Tales

By

Sign in to view read count
As the title of his debut album suggests, pianist Alan Benzie has travelled. Traveller's Tales is a collection of original tunes inspired by these travels, whether the journeys took place on planet Earth or, as Benzie puts it, "in my head." Real or imagined, these traveller's tales are definitely worth hearing.

The pianist was the first winner of the Young Scottish Musician Of The Year, in 2007, after which he studied in Berklee and became the first British musician to win a Billboard Award. He takes inspiration from his homeland, from jazz and from visits to Japan, where he goes often. These inspirations are rarely obvious, rather they are drawn together to produce something fresh. "Leaf Skeletons," a gentle solo piano tune, sounds as if it was inspired by a frosty winter morning in the Scottish highlands but it might well be Benzie's trips to Japan that led to its creation.

Benzie's joined here by friends and long-term bandmates, bassist Andrew Robb and drummer Marton Juhasz. Such a long-term musical relationship seems to have resulted in a laid-back and unhurried approach to playing—there's a feeling of effortlessness throughout the tracks (which no doubt belies the many hours of hard work all three have put in to reach the point where it all seems easy). Robb's solo on "Glass" is flowing and light, an almost featherlight touch on the strings: Juhasz' often complex drum patterns display a similar deftness.

"Midnight Cafe" evokes a calm, welcoming, late-night space—far from Edward Hopper's Nighthawks territory. "From A to B" is the trio at its most romantic, Benzie's delicate flourishes matched by Juhasz' brushes. Benzie describes "A Wandering Mist" and "Frog Town On The Hill" as emerging from "the traveller in my head." There's a joy to the bouncing rhythms of "Frog Town On The Hill," a contrasting melancholy for most of "A Wandering Mist" before the tune reaches a more upbeat conclusion.

Track Listing

Hazy Dawns; Glass; From A to B; Leaf Skeletons; Frog Town On The Hill; Old Haunts; Western Embers; A Wandering Mist; Midnight Cafe; Stony Shore.

Personnel

Alan Benzie: piano; Andrew Robb: double bass; Marton Juhasz: drums.

Album information

Title: Traveller's Tales | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
Jazz Near Edinburgh
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.