Richard Jones Trio – Angle Shades

Efpi

Although trading under Richard Jones‘s name, the six pieces chosen for this new trio’s album are divided between the three players; Jones on piano, Joshua Cavanagh-Brierly on bass and Johnny Hunter on drums, and it is this democratic approach that gives the album its appeal, no one player overwhelming the direction.

The afternoon jazz piano of opener “Eye’s Regret” moves at an elegant pace, the drums injecting the hopscotch element with a sense of adventure. Moving up and down the keyboard, Jones’s bass notes give a hard counterpoint to the more playful higher register and a touch of atonality to keep the listener engaged. Going a little further off-piste, odd chords manifest themselves and changes of structure from all three players cause the atmosphere to evolve.

The drums scuffle and scrape, providing texture as well often leaving the structure to the bass. The sound is capricious, drifting in and out of focus and its transition from well-mannered and restrained to a wild waywardness is exciting yet natural. Johnny ensures he has full use of his kit, while Richard scampers all over the keyboard. All the while, Joshua’s bass knits things together.

“350 Million Herring” finds the piano coasting on the surf of the roiling drums, a sparring match between a slow methodical heavyweight and a surprising and agile lightweight; one countering the other, devolving to a cat and mouse chase. Meanwhile, “K.H” is in a more romantic vein, an early autumn stream just starting to flow, gathering momentum, picking up sonic detritus as gravity takes hold.

The final tracks flows in a similar way, picking up the disjointed cadence and spiritually fulfilling crescendos of “Thursday Afternoon In Newcastle” casting them into the refracting mirror classicism of “Mr Relaxed”. By the time the Erik Satie-like introspection of closer “Some Mat” seduces us, it feels like a real adventure has been experienced.

The trio’s joyful modern image of jazz is a constantly evolving one and it will be interesting to see where it leads them next.

-Mr Olivetti-