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Marc Copland: And I Love Her

By Dan McClenaghan
November 27, 2019
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In any discussion concerning the best of the modern piano trios in jazz,

Marc Copland

piano
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Marc Copland's name has to come up. Pianist Copland—who, oddly, began his jazz career as a saxophonist—shuffles trio mates often, having employed bassist

Gary Peacock

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Peacock and drummer

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian, and drummer

Jochen Rueckert

drums
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jochen Rueckert, and drummer

Bill Stewart

drums
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Stewart and bassist

Drew Gress

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Drew Gress, in a sort of musical-chairs approach unlike that of other current top-shelf piano trio guys such as

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau and

Fred Hersch

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Hersch, who both employ steadier crews. With And I Love Her, Copland has again brought in bassist

Drew Gress

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Drew Gress along with drummer

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Baron.

The trio mates may change, but the dynamic remains the same: Copland's gorgeous lyricism and shimmering harmonies, his deft piano touch and a feel for the perfectly chosen standard—or pop tune—to cover, mixed in a with couple of his own distinctive compositions.

The disc opens with a spooky and off-the-cuff sounding take on

Mongo Santamaria

percussion
1917 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," covered most famously by saxophonist

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane. Not a planned addition to the set, it evolved from the session warm-up, coalescing out of a rambling bass and drums intro into a dark-hued rumination. The follow-up,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island," from the composer's Empyrean Isles (Blue Note, 1964), plays out as an engaging and elastic funk groove.

Bassist Gress contributes "Figment" to the program, a piece of exquisite abstraction which fits perfectly into Copland's modus operandi. "Might Have Been" is a classic Copland tune, with a singable melody that sticks in the head, and "Love Letter," written by the late guitarist

John Abercrombie

guitar
1944 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">John Abercrombie—Copland's oft times collaborator—is recorded here for the first time (it was a regular part of Abercrombie's live shows)—a time-stoppingly beautiful waltz which brings a relaxed joie de vivre to the set.

Copland loves a good pop tune—from

Joni Mitchell

vocals
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Joni Mitchell,

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim or, here, from

The Beatles

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The Beatles. "And I Love Her" is one of the Fab Four's earlier, simpler tunes. The trio treats it with reverence, giving it a wistful, wee hours feel, the disc highlight with a harmonization that showcases the beauty of the melody in the loveliest way.

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Track Listing

Afro Blue; Cantaloupe Island; Figment; Might Have Been; Love Letter; Day and Night; And I Love Her; Mitzi & Jonny; You Do Something to Me.

Personnel

Marc Copland

piano

Marc Copland: piano; Drew Gress: bass; Joey Baron: drums.

Album information

Title: And I Love Her | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Illusions Mirage

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