It's Not What You Think

KEVIN TKACZ TRIO: It’s Not What You Think
Piece of Work of Art, 2008

POSTMODERN JAZZ – Debut recording as a leader from bassist Tkacz (pronounced “Tax”), but this trio is really a collective effort: six of the tracks are improvised. The group is really tight, and the music is highly approachable with a playful air… sounds like a straight-jazz trio that somehow got its charts mixed up but plays on like nothing’s happened. Bill Carrothers steals the show on piano & prepared piano.

Kevin Tkacz - bass
Bill Carrothers - piano
Michael Sarin - drums

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 4, 7

1. 6:09 – improv: nifty little groove built up from odd, disconnected phrases
2. 5:40 – improv: each musician plays dense phrases, then a trio stroll
3. 9:58 – gentle standard ballad; prepared piano makes it rather surreal
4. 6:20 – elusive, shuffling midtempo rhythm; piano piles rich tones on top
5. 4:45 – improv: trio spirals loosely around a lopsided bass riff; peters out
6. 5:12 – improv: drum rolls, then mopey prepared piano, turns kind of creepy
7. 2:43 – improv: uptempo, scratches incessantly at a single spot
8. 8:14 – very slow: starts abstract, becomes gently contemplative
9. 5:08 – improv: quiet percussive sounds under sad piano, odd bass squeals

[ Fo ] 06/06/09