Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding trio: Abstract yet dynamic, tension packed album, 10 Dec 2008
Of all the ECM piano trios, the ones led by Marilyn Crispell are among the very finest. Crispell used to be among the (nowadays) few obvious followers of Cecil Taylor, with a generous portion of McCoy Tyner added to the mix. Her appearance on ECM obviously demanded a somewhat quieter approach that usual. The outcome is nothing short of fantastic (and if you read my other reviews, you will concede I don't tend to go over the top).
Crispell likes to create strong rhythms and set them against others. In this case, those other rhythms are provided by Paul Motian on drums ("When I think percussion, I think Paul Motian" - Charlie Haden) and Mark Helias on double bass. Each piece receives a minimalistic, abstract yet strong and easily identifiable rhythm, over which Crispell's crystal clear notes meander. Her playing is at all times demanding, this is no easy listening by anyone's standards. The first time I heard this, I thought "Paul Bley without the comic relieve". Crispell is much to accomplished and experienced a pianist to sound like anyone else, but if I need to create a frame of reference within the catalog of ECM pianists, Bley comes closest in his highly intellectual, yet strongly rhythm bound approach.
More so than on most ECM piano releases, the individual compositions immediately stick to mind (which is weird, given this is, as I said, one of the most abstract players). The music is so highly engaging, I get sucked into it, and deep. Time and again, a tremendously inspiring, and thus satisfying, listen. On top of that, you get incredible sound quality - in fact, I came upon "Storyteller" as an audiophile recommendation by a German high end magazine.
Of the two ECM trio releases so far, "Storyteller" is the more optimistic, poetic one, "Amaryllis" the darker, more brooding counterpart. Each one a five star album if ever there was one!
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~ Marilyn Crispell
~ Marilyn Crispell
~ Jimmy Giuffre
~ Bobo Stenson
~ Tomasz Stanko
