Wisteria - CD

ENGLISH

Wisdom and wistfulness are intertwined in "Wisteria", whose title track, written by Art Farmer, takes us back to the early <span data-scayt_word="60s" data-scaytid="1">60s</span>, when both Steve Kuhn and Steve Swallow sang softly of the blues in the <span data-scayt_word="trumpeter-flugelhornist’s" data-scaytid="2">trumpeter-flugelhornist's</span> band. They've shared a lot of history since then. Swallow played on Kuhn's classic "Trance"; Kuhn played on Swallow's "Home" and "So There". Drummer Joey Baron has been heard with Kuhn on <span data-scayt_word="ECM" data-scaytid="3">ECM</span> <span data-scayt_word="discs" data-scaytid="4">discs</span> including "Remembering Tomorrow" and the dazzling tribute <span data-scayt_word="disc" data-scaytid="5">disc</span> "Mostly <span data-scayt_word="Coltrane”" data-scaytid="6">Coltrane"</span>. This new album takes a fresh look at several pieces heard in Kuhn's orchestral "Promises Kept" collection, but alongside the aching balladry there is also some driving hard bop (on "A Likely Story") , a brace of Swallow tunes ("Dark Glasses"), Carla <span data-scayt_word="Bley’s" data-scaytid="7">Bley's</span> gospel-tinged "Permanent Wave" and the Brazilian "Romance" by <span data-scayt_word="Dori" data-scaytid="8">Dori</span> <span data-scayt_word="Caymmi…" data-scaytid="9">Caymmi...</span> In all, a varied <span data-scayt_word="programme" data-scaytid="10">programme</span> that the trio seems to sail through effortlessly, master musicians beyond the need to prove anything, creating the agreeable illusion that this demanding music is playing itself.