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Dave Bass Trio: Trio Nuevo Vol 2

By Kyle Simpler
June 13, 2025
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Pianist and composer

Dave Bass

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Bass continues to chart his singular path with Trio Nuevo No. 2, a follow-up to his self-produced Trio Nuevo released in 2024. This second outing pulses with rhythmic vitality and harmonic nuance, blending compositional innovation with expressive depth.

Rooted in Latin jazz traditions but never bound by them, this trio session is an invigorating blend of deep grooves, lyrical invention and sophisticated interplay. Bass, long known for his command of the keyboard and his compositional voice, proves once again that he is a musician of rare intelligence and emotional range.

From the opening track, the album announces its aesthetic: rhythm-forward, harmonically rich and full of subtle surprises. Joined by bassist

Tyler Miles

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyler Miles and drummer

Steve Helfand

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Helfand, Bass leads the trio through a set of both originals and classics marked by vibrant interplay and an unmistakable sense of joy.

As the title suggests, many compositions have a Latin feel, but the style resists any defining characteristic. Trio Nuevo No. 2 features everything from bebop to Bart��k to Mercer and Monk. That openness is felt throughout, as the trio moves easily between modal explorations, Latin grooves, classical flourishes and swinging bop. And through it all, the spirit of

Lennie Tristano

piano
1919 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Lennie Tristano's linear precision paired with

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter's searching lyricism haunts the more reflective corners of the album.

Each of the selections is like its own short story. "Heart Above My Head," inspired by a

Johnny Mercer

composer / conductor
1909 - 1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Mercer lyric but drawing its mood from Bart��k, is dreamlike and expansive, while "Melqu��ades," named for the gypsy character in Gabriel Garc��a M��rquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, unfolds like a magical realist tone poem with Afro-Caribbean inflections. "Latin Journey" is another standout, deftly weaving together threads of Alb��niz, Lecuona and Bass's montuno-rooted sensibility into a seamless tapestry.

The trio also dives headlong into

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "Trinkle Tinkle," reimagining it with disco-tinged detours and elastic tempo shifts. A samba-charged version of "Fools Rush In" adds a wink to a standard more commonly associated with Ricky Nelson, while

Egberto Gismonti

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Egberto Gismonti's "Frevo" is tackled with high-wire precision. The set closes with Tristano's "Lennie's Pennies," a nod to Bass's bop loyalties and an ideal sendoff, which loops back to the playful, intellectual spirit at the album's core.

Trio Nuevo No. 2 is a reminder that Latin jazz is not a fixed category but a dynamic language, capable of endless reinvention. Bass, more than just a seasoned player, is a resilient artist who speaks the language of jazz fluently and, on this record, he makes it sing.

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Track Listing

Legrand/Lester Left Town; Heart Above My Head; Frevo; Melquiades; Latin Journey; Questions; Trinkle Tinkle; Fools Rush In; Dance Of The Infidels; Journey With Bach; Lennie's Pennies.

Personnel

Dave Bass

piano

Tyler Miles

bass

Steve Helfand

drums

Album information

Title: Trio Nuevo Vol 2 | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Dave Bass Music

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