The closer does actually come the jazz world, a wonderfully eccentric piece from Thelonious Monk called "Wee See" (and perhaps the inspiration for the trio's name). It's played with a lot of vigor by all three and after a couple of go 'rounds with the theme, Westfall swings hard while Loomis and Schonig are of the same mind. It's a fitting look back at tradition of vibe jazz done with the mindset of twenty-first century musicians.
The tracks composed separately by Westfall and Loomis show yet more sides of the band. "The Ghost Of Potato Creek Johnny" is their quickest tune, with Schonig demolishing his kit and Westfall making rapid runs. "Song For Harry Potter" has a strong memorable melody that lightly waltzes, with Loomis and Schonig providing a strong undercurrent.
"Pisces" veers close to avant garde jazz with a partially dissonant bassline and an outstanding drum solo by Schonig. The mid-tempo "Satyagraha" showcases some nifty bass work by Loomis on his solo break.
A combination that was originally intended to be a temporary collaboration for a single tour, the vibe (heh) that came from that tour was so strong The Wee Trio is now a going concern. In fact, Capitol Diner Vol. 2 was recorded right after Vol. 1, and so we have the follow-up to look forward to soon. Already, the Trio promises that Vol. 2 will rock even harder.
Whether it does or not, The Wee Trio is already one vibe trio that's a force to be reckoned with.
Here are the boys performing "The Ghost of Potato Creek Johnny" in a small venue in front of an appreciative crowd:
Purchase: The Wee Trio - Capitol Diner Vol. 1 (not available on Amazon.com)
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments