A piano, bass and drums trio made up by big talent all around is always a treat, but when it’s a trio of up-and-comers with a zest for moving jazz into contemporary areas, it’s all the better. Addison Frei (piano), Perrin Grace (upright bass) and drummer Matt Young (an alum of the late Bob Belden’s Animation ensemble) make up such a combo, called the AMP Trio. Now together for five years, they recently wrapped up recording their third album and Three is soon coming to a record outlet near you. Expected out April 17, 2017, it’s intuitive and forthright, performed with first-rate rapport. Ranging from hip-hop to straight jazz to free-form improv, it looks both back and ahead with equal reverence.
Grace’s urbane composition “N.T. Bag,” premiering in the stream above, does just that. Young maintains a crisp, drum ‘n’ bass rhythm, and Grace’s bass patterns often in lock step with Frei’s left hand. The melody, with its series of descending figures, fits right into the groove and Frei tosses in a few nice asides as well.
In short, “N.T. Bag” isn’t played by a trio where one player dominates over the others. With the AMP Trio, everyone dominates.
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