Tale Of The Fingers
Dave Young Trio
Justin Time Records Inc.
2000
10 tracks
It seems to me incongruous that the liner notes of this release begin by saying that, "The piano trio has become a monumental institution in jazz history... [The pianists] have set an incredibly high standard." While this comment is relevant, it seems to me that, on a recording as good as this one of a trio led by a bassist, the liner notes should give not piano but bass primacy.
Instead, as a kind of by the way, the notes finally get around to saying that [the great pianist leaders] "...are in love with great bass players. Celebrated Canadian bassist, Dave Young is one of those revered bassists that has recorded with all of them." One is left with a sense that bassist Dave Young has in some way earned the right to have his own piano trio.
Not just because Young is leader of the group but because of the way the performance is balanced, I would be more inclined to think of this as a bass trio, and a very fine one at that.
Beyond the superb musicianship present here, what makes this release stand out is production quality. I'm always impressed when I hear jazz tracks recorded and mixed in CBC studios. The sound is invariably sharp and clear and well-balanced. Each instrument is sharply defined and every nuance, however subtle, makes it unsullied from studio floor to disc. The result is recorded music that can be heard as it was intended to be heard live.
If this release were a location, I'd be thinking more Mississippi than Ontario. The mood set by songs like "The Night is Long" and "Ode to the Southwest" evoke that humid, lazy, weeping willowed atmosphere of an ante-bellum south remembered from an old movie or romance novel. This music is slow and moody and leaves one longing for a mint julip even if one has never tried one before. With piano and drums pulled back to provide subdued support, these songs, both written by Young, focus on Young's tasteful fingerings, sometimes restrained and sometimes more elaborate but always tasteful and always right on.
"Tale of the Fingers" has a livelier feel to it, a jumpiness that reminds me of the sort of jazz that was being recorded in the first quarter of the last century. Part of that feeling may derive from the sweet sounds Young's bow draws out of his bass. In this number, as in all songs on this release, the performances of Cedar Walton on piano and Barry Elmes on drums are equal in class and quality to Young's work on bass.
Also bowed for the most part, "Sweet and Lovely" is slow and moody, carried by Young's bass as the piano and drums walk along beside in measured step. This is a slow stroll down the promenade on a warm, humid summer evening. It's soft focus and slow motion and oh so romantic. This arrangement is a wonderful jazz take on a great old pop song.
The first song of the set, "Bremond's Blues" sets the mood perfectly. This song features the talents of all three partners in this performance as they roll through a variety of moods and allusions. This is a fun piece to listen to more than once. Each listen brings new insights and exposes new references to other tunes recalled from some past time. By the time the listener has heard the full five minutes plus of this song, there's no going back. The rest of the songs simply must be heard.
For anyone interested in hearing some of the best Canadian jazz, some of the best jazz anywhere, I highly recommend Tale Of The Fingers by the Dave Young Trio, one of the finest bass-led jazz trios performing today.
If you're interested in learning a bit more about Dave Young and his music, you could start with his bio at JustinTime.com.
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