Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dave Bass: The Trio Vol. 3

Dave Bass: The Trio Vol. 3

By Pierre Giroux
May 12, 2023
View read count

The life of any jazz musician is precarious and the road to that life is often compromised by unexpected misadventures. Just ask pianist Dave Bass. After completing piano studies with renowned teacher Madame Margaret Chaloff, and composition with

George Russell

composer / conductor
1923 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">George Russell, he began playing firstly around San Francisco but subsequently moved to Southern California. One day on his way to a gig, Bass fell and so damaged his wrist that he was told he would never play piano again. Thus he began a second career by obtaining an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine and subsequently a law degree from UCLA School of Law. Thereafter followed a successful law career until 2015, when he serendipitously discovered that his hand had completely healed, and he decided to return to jazz full time.

Fast forward to The Trio Vol. 3 wherein Bass is joined by bassist

Kerry Kashiwagi

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Kerry Kashiwagi and drummer

Scott Gordon

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Gordon, along with guitarist

Barry Finnerty

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Barry Finnerty on several tracks, as they run through a smorgasbord of originals, American Songbook standards and jazz classics all done with imagination and panache. Fittingly the opening track is a Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn number "As Long As There's Music," which was originally introduced by

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra in 1944. Ever the innovator, Bass changes the time signature from 4/4 to a jaunty 6/4 thereby shifting the accent variations of the rhythmic figures.

The music of

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk holds a special place in Bass' repetoire as he has used one tune on each of his previous trio releases. Here both "Criss Cross'' and "Played Twice" are featured with effective results. On the former, the number's internal metronome provides the foundation for Gordon and Kashiwagi to layer a foundation on which Bass gambols along. The latter is a sly piece, in which each of the participants is given an opportunity to refine the texture of Monk's work. Staying with the jazz composition theme, the trio addresses two classic numbers, namely

John Carisi

trumpet
1922 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">John Carisi's "Israel" and

Tadd Dameron

piano
1917 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now." The Carisi composition is a 12-bar minor blues that Bass carries along in a sprightly swinging fashion full of inventive twists. The Dameron tune is given its usual ballad reading, but Bass arranged it as a feature for bassist Kashiwagi. He is full value for being in the spotlight as he demonstrates that each note matters as part of the flow of the arrangement.

Argentinian

Astor Piazzolla

bandoneon
1921 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Astor Piazzolla is considered by some the most influential figure in the history of the tango and his composition "Libertango" is one of his most important. In this interpretation, Bass' trio is joined by guitarist Barry Finnerty, and they capture the ebb and flow of the tango's dramatic quality.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

As Long As There's Music; Criss Cross; Endless Waltz; Agenbite Of Inwit; With A Song In My Heart; El Ciego; Israel; Blood; If You Could See Me Now; Played Twice; Libertango; Another Ending.

Personnel

Dave Bass

piano

Kerry Kashiwagi

bass

Scott Gordon

drums

Barry Finnerty

guitar, electric

Additional Instrumentation

Barry Finnerty: guitar (4, 11, 12).

Album information

Title: The Trio Vol. 3 | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Dave Bass Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Dewa Budjana: Joged Kahyangan
< Previous

Grateful Deadication 2
Next >

Dave Bass Concerts

Oct 22 Wed

Trio Nuevo 3

Twin Lotus Thai
Sacramento, CA

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.