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Chris Coyle: Phantasma Trio Vol. 1

By Karl Ackermann
July 18, 2022
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Bassist and composer

Chris Coyle

bass
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Coyle is based in Philadelphia, and had previously issued three albums as leader which speak to his broad musical interests. Along with original pieces, he has covered a plethora of styles from re-imagined

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington to Middle Eastern hybrids. Coyle is also a member of the Rel?che chamber ensemble which performs modern classical music. Phantasma Trio Vol. 1 is solidly rooted in the jazz tradition. Coyle brings in

Mostly Other People Do the Killing

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Mostly Other People Do the Killing pianist

Ron Stabinsky

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Stabinsky (also with Rel?che), and longtime collaborator

Doug Hirlinger

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Doug Hirlinger, on drums and electronics, who has played with

Wayne Escoffery

saxophone, tenor
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Escoffery,

Orrin Evans

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans,

Joel Frahm

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Joel Frahm,

Stanley Jordan

guitar, electric
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Jordan,

Rudresh Mahanthappa

saxophone, alto
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudresh Mahanthappa, and many other top artists.

Phantasma Trio Vol. 1 features nine Coyle originals with two additional tracks on the vinyl version. The album opens with "Reflections of Fog (I)," a concise, external piano narrative, accented by Hirlinger's unsettling stick work. Part II of that composition appears later in the program, more fully fleshed out,. The album begins to kick in with "Men of Steal"; the centerpiece of Phantasma Trio Vol. 1. Picking up on the dark theme of its precursor, it quickly explodes into a kinetic celebration. It is the first track in which we can fully appreciate Coyle's bass playing and the flawless interaction of the trio. "Refractions" finds Hirlinger reciting a passage written by Coyle. The music appropriately jumps and breaks like light through parallel planes. "Glacial Erratic," another gem on this album, is lifted by Stabinsky's delicate touch, and grounded with Coyle's deep, woody bass. On the languid "Ocean Time" Coyle takes up the bow supplying a meditative contrast to the shimmering piano. The appealing closing piece, "A New Ending For," migrates from lament to sonnet, to psalm.

Coyle is a gifted and diverse composer and plays in a style reminiscent of

Darek Oles

bass
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Darek Oles but with a distinct edge and authority. Stabinsky is the focal point of most of these pieces and, as he has demonstrated for some time, a world-class pianist. The remarkable dexterity and adaptability of Hirlinger weaves a consistent thread through all of these interesting pieces. The tracks on Phantasma Trio Vol. 1 sometimes fade out as if incomplete ideas. That is probably due to the pandemic conditions in which the album came together, and is a relatively small nit-pick about a fine album.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Reflections of Fog (I); Art in Person; Return to the Ocean; Men of Steal; Refractions; Glacial Erratic; Ocean Time; Reflections of Fog (II); A New Ending For.

Personnel

Chris Coyle

bass

Ron Stabinsky

piano

Doug Hirlinger

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Doug Hirlinger: electronics; Ron Stabinsky: electronics.

Album information

Title: Phantasma Trio Vol. 1 | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Passerine Records

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