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SUBJECT: | Great guitar trio albums? Back to Subjects |
owen Apr 26 2011 at 5:16 PM |
Listening to DayTrip and marvelling how great Pat is in this format (is he getting perpetually better?), I started thinking: how many great guitar trio albums (as in jazz guitar, bass, drums) are there? It’s difficult to think of many! Even recognised classics of jazz guitar, like Wes’ "Smokin’", are usually a quartet. Any thoughts? Suggestions? p.s. I enjoy this side of Pat’s music more than any other these days, and I’ve often thought it’d be good if some kind of multi-cd set was released of live trio recordings down the years, including the trios (and tunes) that didn’t make records. |
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MarcNebo Jun 16 2011 at 11:45 AM |
I will be revisiting the Metheny Trio recordings with Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart. I saw the trio live in California. This year I saw Larry Grenadier several times. He is an incredible bassist and I think underrated. Lots of great music on those cds. |
owen Jun 12 2011 at 6:19 AM |
I believe some live recordings of the BSL trio (Jaco & Moses) have been released in new Jaco releases. Some of those recordings can probably be heard online. I don’t think more studio recordings exist, however. I think the McBride-Sanchez trio could be my favourite. They played with a special kind of energy. |
MarcNebo May 15 2011 at 10:50 PM |
I have liked all the Pat Metheny Trio cd’s. Still waiting for unreleased recordings with Jaco and Bob Moses from "Bright Size Life". |
kuhill May 14 2011 at 5:54 AM |
Michael Sagmeister Trio "Bouncing around" is a powerfull Trio-Album. For my opinion the title "Funkloch" is madness. "Martha" is a (solo) song? I don’t know... Michael Sagmeister plays along and...it’s sounding great. |
owen May 13 2011 at 7:05 AM |
The Rypdal/Vitous/deJohnette album is one I heard a while ago & was impressed. Will have to look it up again. I often browse Jim Hall cds in shops. One I saw recently is just called ’trio’ (I think) but it’s actually guitar, bass, piano. All sessions recorded in a single day. A bit tempted by that one. Anyone know it? |
s in Boston May 12 2011 at 12:41 PM |
Oh, I get it. It’s already clear my number 1 is Q&A . . . . ranking beyond that is difficult for me. I wouldn’t want to go through life without any of them. |
s in Boston May 12 2011 at 12:38 PM |
cdub - me, or some other s? If you’re asking me - Q&A would have to be my number 1. |
chetweir May 12 2011 at 12:03 AM |
hey S......was wondering how YOU would rank Pat’s trio recordings? 1. Q&A 2. ? 3.? .......etc? |
lfr28 May 11 2011 at 9:46 AM |
Jim Hall’s "Live!" from the mid 1970s. fantastic trio recorded live in Toronto. available on CD... |
Scooterfruit May 10 2011 at 5:48 PM |
Jonathan Kreisberg’s album "Nine Stories Wide" is great as is "Trioing" |
HAMBONE May 09 2011 at 12:10 PM |
Ok try these two guitar/bass/drum trios, with no extras . Trio of Doom with McLaughlin,Pastorius and Williams. It was short lived and not as great as one would think with these 3 legends, but worth a listen. And another trio with Jaco was his works with Mike Stern and Dennis Chambers. It’s hard to find, but some awesome playing. |
bluepno May 08 2011 at 7:05 PM |
Rypdal, Vitous, DeJohnette by Terje Rypdal , also the Oddesey album although he adds a 4th instrument trombone on one track. |
Metal Fingers May 07 2011 at 3:44 PM |
So I guess trio beyond (Scofield,DeJonette,Goldings) isn’t a trio then? I also wouls like to note this thread is supposed to be a jazz trio as mentioned,Jazz guitar,bass and drums. Cream, Band of Gypsys don’t count imho. Two fav’s of mine Scofield trio Enroute Day trip |
wright May 07 2011 at 8:00 AM |
Mulsch, Kessel was one of my favorite jazz guitarists, but when he quit touring with Oscar Peterson and was replaced with Herb Ellis, the Oscar Peterson Trio became the best entertainment in the music business. Nat King Cole might beg to differ, but just a brief listen to any of their albums, recorded in the fifties, will attest to their greatness. No discussion of guitar trios should fail to mention Herb’s work with Oscar. |
-m May 06 2011 at 10:59 PM |
"life long back pain" :-) |
mulsch May 06 2011 at 6:47 PM |
I guess I am showing my age, but, The Pollwinners is still one of my favorite configurations of a "classic" jazz guitar trio. Shelley Manne, Ray Brown and Barney Kessel. It’ only 41 minutes long but every minute of it cooks. |
Dazedcat May 06 2011 at 5:26 PM |
I’m just happy Squire didn’t hurt himself. That sounds very complex and how much would a triple neck bass guitar weigh do you think?? Sounds like a recipe for life long back pain if you ask me. |
Michielmm May 06 2011 at 5:08 PM |
John Abercrombie |
barley May 06 2011 at 4:09 PM |
When a good old fashioned prog rock guitarist plays a double neck guitar I assume he’s a duo. Actually I have video footage of Chris Squire playing a triple neck bass. So he is a trio on his own. Neat. Oh, and bass pedals. He’s a quartet!! And did he "La La La" into the microphone? |
Dazedcat May 04 2011 at 11:53 AM |
Steve Khan released a double live CD a couple years ago called "The Suitcase" which featured Khan along with Anthony Jackson and Dennis Chambers. This was live from their European tour back in ’94. Jackson plays a six string electric contrabass though, so maybe it’s three and a half guys? |
MarcNebo May 04 2011 at 9:49 AM |
Ginger Baker Trio "Going Back Home" with Ginger Baker (Cream), Bill Frisell and Charlie Haden. Released in 1994, it is a power trio with some mellower cuts but mostly about power and more power. |
tokeyozi May 03 2011 at 1:36 PM |
Bob, there’s another fine album by WJ Trio, Spirit of the Dancer. With a gospel choir on the title song; perfect harmonies, very much like Manhattan Transfer’s, with whom Wayne has been on the road for 20 odd years. On youtube you can watch him and Tommy Emmanuel do some great Beatles stuff. |
HAMBONE May 03 2011 at 12:35 PM |
So let me make sure I have this straight...if I play in a trio and we can all play 3 instruments, we are now a nonet? Intersting... |
Bob Meyrick May 03 2011 at 2:54 AM |
Tokeyozi, I also have a Wayne Johnson Trio LP, "Grasshopper", which I haven’t listened to in years. Thanks for the reminder! |
Bob Meyrick May 03 2011 at 2:48 AM |
The answer I was looking for was none, as the keyboard player does it with his left hand, but tokeyozi’s answer is also good. My favourite light bulb joke was in relation to folk singers - four, one to change the bulb and three to sing about how great the old one was. |
owen May 02 2011 at 4:28 PM |
Yeah, Swallow wrote the melody but i’ve always thought of it as a guitar tune! It’s still one that I think Metheny could do! |
john May 02 2011 at 2:28 PM |
Bob, if the organist is part of a trio and is playing the bassline with his left hand AND changing a light bulb, then this makes this a functional quintet. Cheers John |
tokeyozi May 02 2011 at 2:08 PM |
I guess, Bob, one to change the bulb, and four to talk about how much better Jaco would have done it? |
Bob Meyrick May 02 2011 at 11:36 AM |
What about an organist who plays the bassline with his left hand? Which reminds me - how many bass players does it take to change a light bulb? |
tokeyozi May 02 2011 at 9:22 AM |
Orchestrion, a solo album? Mm, I’ll settle for “played by the Pat Metheny Orchestra”. |
tokeyozi May 02 2011 at 9:12 AM |
PeteV, nice definition of a one man band, a failed escape artist. Reminds me of this really entertaining Dutch jazz band, the Houdini’s. A six-man band, or was it seven? They’re easy to find on youtube. |
s in Boston May 01 2011 at 11:31 PM |
So, Fred - an organist playing alone - that’s a duo? |
akakak May 01 2011 at 7:24 PM |
I really like Mary Halvorson’s Trio (the Dragon Gate CD). Also, Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio "Reflections". A stunning collection of ballads. Very different and original sounds on both of these. I know I mentioned this before, but I think the Pat Metheny Trio with Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins wasn’t fully documented. A multi-Disc set of live performances from this period would really be great! |
fredsimon May 01 2011 at 6:07 PM |
Owen, "General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan" is by Steve Swallow, not Coryell. |
Dazedcat May 01 2011 at 4:37 PM |
Another great Ambercrombie trio album was the one he did live with Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine from 1989. |
-m May 01 2011 at 1:41 PM |
Speaking of Blues Dream and Bill Frisell I just picked up the DVD (filmed at Montreal Jazz Fest.) last week. Very cool to see one of my favorite albums done live...and done well! |
thehague May 01 2011 at 12:15 PM |
To me a couple of good examples are "Savivity" and "Our Gang" by the Anthony Wilson Trio. |
owen May 01 2011 at 3:54 AM |
The mention of Coryell reminds me that I’ve often thought that I’d like to hear Pat do Coryell’s early tune ’General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan’. Another curiosity has passed my mind: ever heard of the David Becker Tribune? I found a record called ’Long Peter Madsen’ by them, done in the mid-1980s, and I thought it was a very inventive and good trio record, creative and with a very similar sensibility to Pat. |
fredsimon Apr 30 2011 at 11:22 PM |
bluepno, thanks for mentioning Timeless, one of my faves. Of course, Jan Hammer does play bass pedals and bass synth. But another closely related classic guitar trio album, and another fave of mine, is Gateway ... Abercrombie, Holland, and DeJohnette. |
john Apr 30 2011 at 7:07 PM |
Pat was billed as "Pat Metheny Solo and Orchestrion" when he toured so we can’t categorise him as a one man band. Shame really - he’d have been in the Guiness Book of Records as the largest one man band otherwise. |
fredsimon Apr 30 2011 at 6:52 PM |
Regarding the guitar trio issue: like I said, it’s not that big of a deal, just something worth noting ... it’s not the number of musicians, it’s the variety of instrumental functions. Same with classic organ trio: organ, guitar, drums, but the organist is also the bassist ... three people, four instrumental functions. |
bluepno Apr 30 2011 at 6:50 PM |
For me, John Abercrombie Timeless (ecm) hits the mark. |
fredsimon Apr 30 2011 at 6:47 PM |
Owen, try Blues Dream by Frisell ... with Greg Leisz on lap slide, some very raw, crunchy blues-rock guitar by both of them, with bass, drums, and three horns. One of his best. |
owen Apr 30 2011 at 3:23 PM |
Maybe I did hear Krantz on a bad night. But I don’t like his style anyway, I’m pretty sure. Fred, the reason for my reluctance to get Frisell albums is that I’ve heard several of his tunes before, and I own two records (Is it Me?, Folk Songs vol.1), not counting ’Sound of Summer Running’, and I find that, while I admire his playing, I find his music to be ultimately dull. My general sense is that if Krantz turns Hendrix-style into something academic, Frisell turns US country/folk styles into something as academic sounding as classical chamber music (a style I like, actually). Fascinating on first listen, to hear him compose like that, but ultimately...I find the sound boring. He’s not Aaron Copland, and it feels like there’s only so far one can go in the direction he’s taken with that pedal-steel guitar sound, and he’s already done it, many times over. I enjoy his playing on the ’Sound of Summer Running’ album w/Pat most, and it has been sort of ’my Frisell album’. To me, he’s a great guitarist for adding colour to tunes (even Lyle Mays’ first album), but ultimately his own music disappoints for me. |
barley Apr 30 2011 at 1:35 PM |
Is Orchestrion a solo album? Evidently not. |
Pete_Vancouver Apr 30 2011 at 1:00 PM |
I have always classed a one man band as a contortionist . Or a failed escape artist . |
Dazedcat Apr 30 2011 at 11:36 AM |
Larry Coryell has recorded a couple of trio albums with Victor Bailey and Lenny White that are worth seeking out. He’s also had an organ trio with Paul Wertico and Sam Yahel which is terrific. |
tokeyozi Apr 30 2011 at 5:52 AM |
Question re: the fredsimon/s in boston discussion. I was wondering: a one-man band, e.g. singer with guitar/harmonica/bassdrum- strapped-to-heels, would that be a soloist or a quartet, or rather, a trio with vocalist? Just curious. |
tokeyozi Apr 30 2011 at 5:37 AM |
I agree with Bob; the Wayne Krantz/Lefebvre/Carlock trio works for me as well. I have a different experience with Krantz. When I saw him with Chris Potter a few years ago, he was a most inspiring and imho quite innovative guitarist playing these quasi random chords that kept me on the edge of my seat. And btw, if you play with Potter you’re not exactly a loser :) Owen, maybe Krantz had a bad night, and also, it might depend on who you’re playing with. With a guy like Potter you have to work extremely hard to keep up, which Krantz did then. Speaking of ‘Wayne’: how about Wayne Johnson Trio, back in the eighties (Jimmy Johnson on bass, Bill Berg, drums)? Arrowhead was one of my faves back then (along with PMG’s American Garage). I’m afraid it’s available only on vinyl. |
Bob Meyrick Apr 30 2011 at 4:51 AM |
Trio ELB - Peter Erskine, Nguyen Le, Michel Benita. Hendrix fans might also like Nguyen Le’s "Purple", with Terri Lynne Carrington and Michel Alibo. |
Bob Meyrick Apr 30 2011 at 4:45 AM |
Owen, that doesn’t sound like the Wayne Krantz that I’ve seen in about ten gigs over the years since 1998. |
PeeWee Apr 29 2011 at 11:12 PM |
Fred, I hadn’t listened to "Gone, Just Like a Train" in quite awhile...cued it up today, and while it’s a good record, I don’t consider it a Jazz record..it has a nostalgic bluesy-country feel to it, and the image of an old cowboy atop a tired old horse ambling along the Pecos comes to mind...I think the record with Holland and Jones is more exciting, and definitely has more of a Jazz feel to it.. |
fredsimon Apr 29 2011 at 8:12 PM |
Owen, why are you "reluctant to get albums by [Frisell]"? |
s in Boston Apr 29 2011 at 8:01 PM |
But Fred, that’s ridiculous. He’s only playing ONE instrument, which happens to have pedals. What would you call an organist playing alone - a duo? |
barley Apr 29 2011 at 4:56 PM |
Seabob, of course!! The greatest ever "guitar trio". Well done. Enough said. CREAM. |
SEABOB Apr 29 2011 at 12:02 PM |
CREAM :) |
owen Apr 29 2011 at 8:07 AM |
Well, I know I do not like Krantz. I saw him live a year or two ago, and I thought he & his trio were totally uninspired, unoriginal and one-dimensional. He kept telling the audience between pieces that he was a genius, while bad-mouthing popular taste and claiming the audience could probably not appreciate the incredible depths of his music, and then he launched into yet another r’n’b jam at maximum volume. Many jazz guitarists, including Pat, admire his playing. To me, though, his trio has no more appeal than just another garage band, playing as loud as they can. To me, Krantz tries to reinvent ’band of gypsy’ like-r’n’b jam sessions as something almost academic. Personally, I often feel that when jazz bands go for a Hendrix like sound it doesn’t work. But that’s just me. |
kerrmit Apr 29 2011 at 7:27 AM |
Joe Pass - Virtuoso. It sounds like there must be at least 3 guitarists playing on that. |
Bob Meyrick Apr 29 2011 at 4:21 AM |
Wayne Krantz - "Two Drink Minimum", "Greenwich Mean", "Your Basic Live", "Your Basic Live ’06". All of these were taken from recordings made at the 55 Bar; TDM with Lincoln Goines and Zach Danziger, GM and YBL with Tim Lefebvre and Keith Carlock, YBL06 with the addition of Cliff Almond, James Genus, Anthony Jackson and Paul Socolow. Much as I love Pat’s trio, the most inspiring guitar trio gigs I’ve seen have been with Krantz/Carlock/Lefebvre, their energy and empathy had to be seen to be believed. |
owen Apr 28 2011 at 5:55 PM |
Thanks for the replies. Some are familiar (e.g. Mclaughlin at the Royal Festival hall), some not. Frisell is interesting, but I’m reluctant to get albums by him. The one mentioned, though, is the one I’ve ’been thinking about’ (the ’trains’ album). Curious about Martino suggestions. Even though his real forte is gypsy jazz, I think Bireli Lagrene did a good trio album in ’Live in Marciac’; great drummer on that one, Andre C., who I had the pleasure to see play from 6ft away in a trio w/Sylvian Luc a couple of years ago! I saw Abercrombie play a (mostly) trio set here in IReland (where I live) a year or two ago, and again it was the drummer’s performance (Joey Baron, no less) I liked best. I liked his playing with Frisell too. As for Pat...I’ve often seen Q&A as the best of his trio albums, but of late ’DayTrip’ is the one that stands out for me. Constantly inventive, constantly seemingly effortless playing, and so so full of vitality. His playing on other albums is maybe a little more ’laboured’ sounding by comparison (I don’t mean that as a criticism). Anyway, DayTrip is my favourite right now. Q&A will always stand for me as the first album I heard that really turned my ears on to jazz drumming. As someone mentioned Jimi H., I might note it was Mitch Mitchell who first opened my ears to drumming period (when I was 17 back in 1993)! What about Jim Hall, people? I really like the first cd in the ’Hallmarks’ compilation & his playing w/Bill Evans. I’d love to hear of a classic trio recording by him. |
Dazedcat Apr 28 2011 at 4:18 PM |
What sunship said about "Band Of Gypsys" is very true. When the kiddies ask me why Hendrix was such a big deal I point them to this album. They never ask again. |
fredsimon Apr 28 2011 at 4:07 PM |
Yes, s, three people make a trio ... however, four instruments make a quartet. Joey is functioning as two independent instruments. It’s not a huge issue, but it is worth considering. |
sunship Apr 28 2011 at 3:00 PM |
Jimi Hendrix - "Band Of Gypsys" - Of course, how can anyone leave out one of my all time favorite albums by one of my favorite artists? My god, the playing and sounds are just from another planet. |
sunship Apr 28 2011 at 2:17 PM |
I also agree with Pee Wee. The Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones is a serious mindtrip. That really redefines what a guitar trio can do. If any of you have not heard it, run to the store now! |
sunship Apr 28 2011 at 2:15 PM |
Grant Green - "Green Street" |
barley Apr 28 2011 at 2:15 PM |
If we are splitting hairs, then the only great guitar trio album is "Passion, Grace and Fire". |
HAMBONE Apr 28 2011 at 11:36 AM |
I stand corrected in the sense of a trio with guitar,bass and drums. But it’s still a guitar led trio and excellant. |
s in Boston Apr 28 2011 at 11:31 AM |
Anyways, I may as well just come out and say it. Nothing will ever top "Question And Answer." |
s in Boston Apr 28 2011 at 10:24 AM |
Fred, I so rarely get to disagree with you. Three people make a trio! |
fredsimon Apr 27 2011 at 8:56 PM |
Another great guitar trio album is Pat’s TRIO —> LIVE |
fredsimon Apr 27 2011 at 6:58 PM |
Hambone, technically speaking, that Martino album isn’t really a guitar trio ... Joey D on organ is kicking bass pedals, so it’s a functional quartet. True guitar trio is usually guitar, bass, drums, just like a piano trio is piano, bass, drums. ------ Anyway, my recommendation of a great guitar tio album is Bill Frisell’s Gone, Just Like A Train. |
john Apr 27 2011 at 5:58 PM |
McLaughlin’s been in a few - the original Lifetime was groundbreaking stuff; Live at the Royal Festival Hall with Trilok Gurtu and Kai Echardt is simply one of the best live recordings around (and I was there);Tokyo Live with Joey De Francesco and Dennis Chambers is a great recording and another favourite that gets regular play. Of course there was also that guitar trio thing. Cheers John |
PeeWee Apr 27 2011 at 5:24 PM |
Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones. |
HAMBONE Apr 27 2011 at 12:16 PM |
There are some that come to mind. Two of my favorites are Pat Martino Live at Yoshis with Joey D on organ and Billy Hart on drums. The other is John Scofield with Swallow and Stewart Live En Route. Both are live and excellant. And my favorite Pat trio has always been Q and A. It has stood the test of time. |
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