Tim Stevens Trio
Mickets
(Rufus/Universal)
Rating: ****
Following the previous two albums from Melbourne pianist Tim Stevens’ trio, their latest also contains original compositions. Content here though is more a conventional piano trio than the free jazz style of their last CD, Three Friends in Winter.
There is improvisation aplenty based on Stevens’ always interesting written forms, and considerable space is given to the expressively melodic acoustic bass of Ben Robertson.
Rufus Redux, after a piano opening and swinging exploration of theme, gives way to a thoughtful bass solo building in fast passages to Dave Beck’s superbly timed drum solo.
A completely different approach is evident on Sly Pie where rhythms are broken and tempos altered to broaden opportunities in soloing, travelling almost into contemporary classical territory.
The poetically entitled The Body Desolate as a Staircase is a beautiful ballad moving serenely through extended harmonies with elegant support from bass and drums.
The title Mickets was Stevens’ son’s first attempt at the word ‘music.’
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This review first appeared in The Weekend Australian and is republished with permission.
