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Autobahn: Of the Tree

By Dan McClenaghan
June 23, 2016
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A jazz trio named Autobahn, from Toronto, Canada, with an unusual make-up—piano, sax and drums—is just asking to called "experimental" on their modernistic recording, Of The Tree. And why not? Eliminating the bass (the obvious missing link) makes for new atmospheres, and creates new spaces. Looking for comparisons, Momentum Space (Verve Records, 1999), a masterpiece of the sparsely-populated piano/sax/drums genre by free jazz piano legend

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor, saxophonist

Dewey Redman

saxophone, tenor
b.1931

" data-original-title="" title="">Dewey Redman and drummer

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones, is one that comes to mind—a set that pushed the limits of that brand of trio sound.

Up The Tree pushes limits in its own way, with a dark and abstract chamber rumination on the disc's opener, "Grounded," before shifting into a hellbent, careening groove of "Primrose Princess (Part 1)," that could be a soundtrack for a car that's lost it steering, down bound on a mountain road. "Tribute," with reed man

Jeff LaRochelle

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff LaRochelle shifting to the rich tones of bass clarinet alongside the glistening piano work of

James Hill

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">James Hill, and

Ian Wright

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ian Wright's for whom-the-bell-tolls drums, sounds like music from another planet, or dream. "Forgiveness" is a celebration, in an almost mainstream way, with some inspired interplay, with a great melody that sounds as though it trying out for the jazz standard competition, and rising to the top of the contest. "Roots" is a La Rochelle's satisfying tenor saxophone solo honk-fest, and "Reverie" does justice to its title—a piece of searching, introspective beauty.

Coming up with an original sound is one of the hardest things to do in jazz, or in any art form, for that matter. Autobahn has done that nicely, with their consistently-compelling Of The Tree.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Grounded; Primrose Princess, Part I; Tribute; Forgiveness, Roots; Reverie; Interlude; Glass; Slow Dance; Bird Flight; Primrose Princess, Part II; Airborne.

Personnel

Autobahn

James Hill: piano; Jeff DeRochelle: tenor sax and bass clarinet; Ian Wright: drums.

Album information

Title: Of the Tree | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

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