Parts 1 and 3 of "Trio Sonata" hover around the ten-minute mark and often seem to buckle under their own weight. Part 1 progresses from handclaps and a bluesy bass line to a cyclically climaxing piano solo, before accelerating through a series of motivic sections. There's a rare touch of humor when Pilc whistles more-or-less in unison with his piano in Part 3. The trio plays through Pilc's long-form composition studiously and yet, as Part 4 comes to its inconclusive ending, I am left wondering why, exactly I was dragged through all of that.
Throughout the album, no one mood is ever really maintained: It is as if while in one mood, the musicians were really thinking of the next. Individually, each musician adds something of value (Genus and M'Boup's earthiness contrast strongly with Newsome's etherealness, for example), but the whole never seems to gel enough to make a strong statement.
Article comments
1 - Sandra Smallson
Hmmm. Completely opposite from what a friend of mine told me about cardinal points. She just thought it was excellent all the way through. It's a shame the record stores dont let u get a brief listen anymore. I was going to pick it up but I am hoping to borrow it. I have Andrew Hill's Passing Ship and I have been led to believe not only by Amazon (who cost me a fortune) but by my friend, that if I like Passing Ships, I will like Cardinal points and that it is a much better offering.
I wonder if there's a website where I could catch a free listen before I give Amazon more of my money.
2 - mwanji
I have Passing Ships and cannot see much ressemblance between the two albums. I saw that Amazon customers "also bought" Passing Ships, but that's where the comparaison ends, IMO.
If this is your introduction to Pilc, I would recommend getting a trio album instead: there are two volumes of "Live at Sweet Basil" and "Welcome Home" to choose from.
3 - Mark Saleski
from what i've read (and heard only in snippets) this record is somewhat of a style departure for pilc.
what's i've heard so far reminds me of brad meldau.
4 - Sandra Smallson
It is my introduction to Pilc. Thanks, I will take your advice. Welcome Home, I can borrow from the music Library cos I think I have seen it there. I'll give that a listen. I hate to part with money unless I know what it is I am getting.
5 - mwanji
Mark,
Yes, this is different for him, as composition becomes more important than improvisation and group interplay.
Mehldau doesn't really come to mind for me. Pilc is much more forceful and their trio sounds, expressivity and compositional styles are totally different. I think Pilc gets more often compared to Martial Solal.
6 - Eric Olsen
Good job Mwanji, I actually have this but haven't got to it yet. Thanks!
7 - Ccile
Hello,
You can watch some part of the show of Jean-Michel Pilc trio, live at Theatre Le Quai, Angers, France.