Greg Coffin Trio
It’s Neither Either Or. It’s Both And.
(Jazzgroove/Creative Vibes)
Rating: ****1/2
Surprisingly this is the debut recording of a well-established Sydney piano trio led by pianist Greg Coffin.
Of many commendable Australian jazz piano trios this one is an outstanding example of the genre, displaying extraordinary rapport and fresh ideas.
A variety of moods is covered in eight originals from the opening track07 Blues with its persistent building of a ‘down home’ theme, pushed and underscored by bassist Cameron Undy and the intelligent drumming of Nic Cecire.
Coffin’s solos are marvels of rhythmic-infused melody lines, scattered with semiquavers, stringent grooves, and huge harmonic concepts.
A tender ballad, Tess, features beautiful progressions and an empathetic state-of-the-art bass solo. Paul’s Gift, a tribute to Coffin’s teacher Paul McNamara, begins with the bass stepping in and out of the piano’s statement of a medium tempo theme and swings with increasing intensity towards another gifted bass solo.
A CD of important compositions from one of the most talented trios on the Sydney scene.
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This review first appeared in The Weekend Australian and is republished with permission.
