Track Listing

1. Trio Conversation (Introduction)
2. Hyperballad
3. Roxane's Song
4. K.T.C.
5. Plaza Real
6. Shine
7. Green Sky
8. Sister's Song
9. Drum Kick
10. Free-bop
11. Free Combination For Three Instruments
12. Entropy
13. Trio Conversation (The End)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47781 in Music
• Released on: 2005-02-15
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
This Polish trio first came together a decade ago, playing with Tomasz Stanko. Then in their teens, their rapport with the trumpet player 40 years their elder was immediate, and they still continue to this day as a quartet. Here they cast out on their own, showing the full breadth of artistry. Pianist Marcin Wasilewski is the primary writer, composing a third of the set. His pieces range from the perky "K.T.C." to the jubilant "Shine." In addition to a handful of group improvisations, they also cover Stanko's "Green Sky," Wayne Shorter's "Plaza Real," and, in a surprise move, a gorgeously rendered version of Björk's "Hyperballad." Following similar impulses as Bill Evans, they embrace jazz piano trio traditions, along with European classical motifs. --David Greenberger

Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes, June 2005
It is a work of exquisitely nuanced quietude.

Larry Nai, Cadence - October 2005
Trio's sonics capture each instrument brilliantly, making it a marvelous feast for the ears.

Customer Reviews

Effortlesss Mastery
These guys play so well, individually and together, I am not worthy to speak on their music except to add my praise to the rest. Even when playing abstractly, this trio conveys a certain majesty in their mystery. I don't know how you can listen to them seriously without becoming incredibly peaceful and relaxed. Mixed in with their own compositions are their versions of Bjork, Wayne Shorter, and even one from their co-conspirator Tomasz Stanko. It must be an honor to have one of your songs played by these musicians. Every song on this cd has such an integrity, every note played with such care. If you love beautiful music and jazz then this cd is a must have. Over the course of hearing several cd's, I've come to expect the unexpected from these guys. Nothing is ever trite but full of surprise and wonder. Listening to K.T.C. I am reminded that Marcin Wasilewski plays with such melody and harmonic invention while drummer Michal Miskiewicz and bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz provide equal parts daring and taste. I am most reminded of Jack Dejohnette in Miskiewicz's drumming. Both drummers paint with their sticks, such color and hues which contribute to the magical experience of listening. There is nothing ordinary about this trio, nothing mundane on this cd. I am a new fan of this group and based upon the music contained on Trio, will be for life.

Suave Slavs
In the past couple of years, I have been getting into the kind of minimalist European jazz championed by ECM Records. As I was already a fan of Polish jazz artist Tomasz Stanko it didn't take a whole lot of prodding to get me to buy Trio, which features three members of Stanko's regular combo.
Well, to paraphrase another reviewer, it appears that the pupils have superseded their master. These suave Slavs prove here that they understand the jazz idiom perfectly. I am not an expert in the technical jargon of that idiom, but I can tell you that when you hear Trio, you hear what jazz is really all about!
My term for the music here would be dynamic minimalism. That may sound like a contradiction in terms, but when you listen you'll hear what I mean. The recording itself is outstanding. The listener can hear what each musician is doing, and none of them overshadows his fellows. The breezy sophistication of the music imbues the listener with feelings of serenity and utter relaxation.
Pianist Marcin Wasilewski shows a talent for composition as the quality of such tunes as K.T.C., Shine, and Free-bop will attest. Indeed, the trio shows confidence in relying mostly on its own compositions to carry the album. Only on four songs does it borrow from others, and when it does so, it shines as well.
My favorites here are the cover of Bjork's Hyperballad, Wasilewski's K.T.C., Wayne Shorter's Plaza Real, Wasilewski's Shine, his Sister Song (composed jointly with his sister) and his Free-bop.
Trio is a CD I'll be listening to again and again. With this recording, Messrs. Wasilewski, Kurkiewicz, and Miskiewicz should be set to become household names in the world of jazz.

yes!
This debutalbum from the polish simpe acoustic trio on the ECM label is a international introduction of Marcin Wasilewski, Slawomir Kurkiewicz and Michal Miskiewicz. These musicians need to be noticed by the jazzloving world. They must be allowed to step out of the Stanko shade. Trio is a nice attempt to make a statement and it is most certainly a 5 star album.

But there is one problem. The album is not up to the same levell as the trio their performences on the Stanko-albums. Mayby it's because I miss Stanko on this album or mayby it's because they miss the craftmanship of Stanko. The first remark implies that the music is in a Stanko style. The second implies that without Stanko the trio can't get to that levell of performing as they do playing with Stanko.

But... just mayby... The trio was a bit impressed by the ECM-studios willingness to give it a go. I my opion the trio gave away to much of their musicalcharacters to comply to the ECMstyle and vision. Awkward!

I can't wait to hear this music being played live (far away from the recordingstudio).

Nonetheless... this album is beautifull. Nice to have in the collection next to the three stanko albums and the Manu Katche-happening.

FJB/O!-music 2006