Ellery Eskelin Trio - Willisau Live (2016)

Hat Hut Records Ltd.: hatOLOGY 741
http://www.hathut.com/hatology



* Ellery Eskelin : tenor saxophone
* Gary Versace : Hammond B3 organ
* Gerry Hemingway : drums

Recorded live at the Jazz Festival Willisau, Switzerland on August 28th, 2015.
http://www.jazzfestivalwillisau.ch/

Recording produced for SRF 2 Kultur by Peter Bürli.
http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/jazz-live/ellery-eskelin-trio-new-york-am-jazz-festival-willisau-2015
Recording engineered by Martin Pearson.
Mixed by Jon Rosenberg.
CD-master by Peter Pfister.

Reviews

By Tim Niland
http://www.jazzandblues.blogspot.com/2016/09/ellery-eskelin-trio-willisau-live.html

This album by the excellent trio of Ellery Eskelin on tenor saxophone, Gary
Versace on Hammond B3 organ and Gerry Hemingway on drums was recorded live at
the Jazz Festival Willisau in Switzerland in August of 2015. The group has been
subtly remaking the nature of the organ trio over their past few albums and
this is a superb summation of their music. "On (or About)" is a massive fifty
minute suite of jazz that hints at some of the classic melodies of the past,
but also weaves in aspects of free music and heightened group dynamism. They
open with some industrial sounds, like something from a foundry as the organ
grinds ominously and cymbals crash. Eskellin doesn't enter until over four
minutes have elapsed, creating great tension and adding a raw and scouring tone
to the stark improvisation. Their collective improvisation grows quite intense,
with beams of sunshine in the form of happier swing motifs folded in. Eskelin
steps aside again about a third of the way through, allowing space for layers
or bubbling organ and crisp drumming to build. There are hints of melodic
activity and progress that can also be dialed down to a series of abstract
smears and clanks. The leader returns with a series of circular saxophone
figures framed by low volume organ, which develops into a fascinating blend of
swing and free with Eskelin's dark and deep tenor saxophone tone leading the
trio through to the conclusion of a set of music that takes liberties with the
source material, and is thrilling to hear. The Monk chestnut "We See" is opened
with Hemmingway's drums, which are brilliant throughout, developing interesting
rhythms with Versase's bass like organ rumbling. Eskelin's saxophone enters
patiently, developing the improvisation in a snappy and interesting manner. The
drummer moves to brushes for an interesting change of pace, but the intensity
of the music remains high until it is finally reigned in at the end of the
performance. "(I Don't Stand a) Ghost of a Chance With You" is a lustrous
ballad, with Eskelin employing a massive Ben Webster like tenor saxophone tone
over a soft cushion of light percussion and keyboard. The music is very deep
and soulful and shows that Eskelin is much more than the "avant-garde" player
that he is often labelled. This is classic jazz, lush and lovely and the
perfect end to a concert whose music has has hinted at the entire history of
post-war jazz, played by a band with a unique identity and sharing in their own
fine company.

--

By Derek Taylor
http://dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/145509218326/ellery-eskelin-trio-willisau-live-hatology

By Mark Corroto
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-ellery-eskelin-hatology-review-by-mark-corroto.php

By Raul da Gama
http://jazzdagama.com/cds/ellery-eskelin-trio-willisau-live/

Maciej Karłowski (pl)
http://www.jazzarium.pl/przeczytaj/artyku%C5%82y/ellery-eskelin-trio-willisau-live-starzy-mistrzowie-i-jazz-bez-udawania

Da Giuseppe Segala (it)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/trio-willisau-live-ellery-eskelin-hatology-review-by-giuseppe-segala.php

Por João Santos (pt)
http://www.cuicadodecafonica.blogspot.com/2016/07/ellery-eskelin-trio-willisau-live-hat.html

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