Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dan DeChellis Trio: My Age of Anxiety

Dan DeChellis Trio: My Age of Anxiety

By Karl Ackermann
July 6, 2012
View read count

If anything in jazz approaches the status of a commodity, it would be the piano trio. The inevitable comparisons run the gamut from

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans and

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett to

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor and, more often than not, those benchmarks are either unattainable or unsustainable. A more accessible measure may be in the ability to differentiate one group's unique contribution from the plethora of similarly structured groups. The Dan DeChellis Trio meets that distinction with its debut, My Age of Anxiety—but here, too, the comparisons are hard to ignore.

While DeChellis does cite Evans as an influence, he also credits

Brian Eno

synthesizer
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Eno and King Crimson as having an impact on his music and he leads a dual existence in more than one rock band. His exploratory nature is obvious in the opening title track—a temperate yet dynamic interplay of dark and lighter shades of emotion. "Dr. Kindt" incorporates DeChellis' affinity for classical music, another genre in which he has composed, taught and played. This particular piece eventually takes a alternative route into a style reminiscent of Jarrett's gospel-tinged Koln Concert (ECM, 1975). "After Much Deliberation" returns to a more serene state, though its complexity reflects the tension of options being weighed and considered. European-inspired minimalism, reminiscent of the

Sebastian Liedke

bass, acoustic
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Sebastian Liedke Trio, anchors "13 Holes" and adds another subtle dimension to the mix of material.

While the content of My Age of Anxiety is deeply personal, there is nothing cryptic about the compositions' titles. "Skirt Skate" is more up-tempo than much of the material in the collection. With an animated rumba-like undercurrent it nevertheless transitions perfectly into the very calm "Piece of Peace." "Path" begins along those same tranquil lines but later takes off, before coming full circle. "Suspended in Time" returns the collection to a more moderate boogie tempo, where DeChellis excels at demonstrating his ability to work quite lyrically within complex textures. "The Bottom" has the feeling of floating up through the atmosphere and it closes the collection on a cautiously optimistic note.

DeChellis is capable of being the force in a room, or a more ethereal presence. He improvises but does so within a sequence of themes, working with the structure but not over-thinking the direction of the music. The appeal of My Age of Anxiety grows with repeated listening; there is a quiet power in DeChellis' journey. The music has an open and, at times, free feeling that invites translation. My Age of Anxiety is an effectual and moving collection that deserves to bring wider recognition to this accomplished artist.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

My Age of Anxiety; Dr. Kindt; After Much Deliberation; 13 Holes; SkirtSkate; A Piece of Peace; Path; The Fa?ade; A Search for More; Suspended in Time; Change is Good; A Time of Sighs (for Paul Motian); A Sarcastic Welcome; The Bottom.

Personnel

Dan DeChellis

piano

Dan DeChellis: piano; Mitch Shelly: bass; Zach Martin: drums.

Album information

Title: My Age of Anxiety | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Vidarica
< Previous

Mose Fan Fan: Musicatelama
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.