Crimson Jazz Trio: The King Crimson Song Book Volume 1 (Voiceprint)

Sometime ago, (because of the Fusenet web discussion group) I got involved in an e.mail discussion with Steve Smith about the nature of jazz rock fusion. Somewhere in the exchange of correspondence, I sought to test some interpretation of jazz rock, by asking Steve how King Crimson fitted into the scheme of thing. A non-starter was the response. Subsequently, a few examples of the band’s music have appeared that might modify Steve’s opinion. For instance, ‘King Crimson at Summit Studios Denver 1972’, on Fripp’s King Crimson’s Collectors Club issue, found the quartet jamming extensively to a Pharaoh Saunders’ tune “The Creator Has A Master Plan”, perhaps more than anything else reiterating Mel Collins’ jazz credentials, heard earlier Circus. And to some, the Krimson improvs could be heard as free jazz as opposed to free rock.

More recently, Hiromi with her first album ‘Another Mind’ was greeted by a number of critics as being a very exciting new jazz pianist, but owing something to King Crimson. Then last year Theo Travis very successful (pseudo-modern jazz) cover of “21^st Century Schizoid Man” on ‘Earth To Either’ (33 Records), to my ears used an rearrangement that reinforced my thought that the Dave Brubeck Quartet was an influence of early prog rock.

Now former Krimson drummer Ian Wallace has pulled together a trio in the classic jazz line up of drums, fretless electric (Tim Landers) and acoustic piano (Jody Nardone), for an full album of classic Krimson rearrangements/reinterpretations:

http://www.crimsonjazztrio.com/ - http://www.crimsonjazztrio.com/

The track listing:

21^st Century Schizoid Man/Three Of A Perfect Pair/Catfood/Starless/Ladies Of The Road/I Talk To The Wind/Red/Matte Kadasai

clearly show the album is not sticking to the early 70’s period of King. However, where Travis had change “21^st Century” to quite extent, Wallace and Co. go much further. In some instances, you are left guessing before the main recognisable theme of a tune appears minutes into a piece. The heaviness of the original is replaced by lightness and greater abstraction in the CJT’s version, for instance “Catfood”, but without loosing the essence of original. And the musicians are in very good form. (And to show my innocence in this area of jazz), while I hear a jazz trio in the style of the 60’s or 70’s greats (as opposed to Hiromi or Keith Jarrett), I’m not sure if the trio take after Oscar Peterson (perhaps a lighter touch here), or Errol Gardner or Bill Evans. Jody Nardone takes these Krimson tunes, and with his deft piano playing and arrangement/improv, demonstrates they have considerable mileage as jazz standards. Wallace swings like I haven’t heard before, while Lander’s bass both works well as half of the rhythm section and providing enjoyable lead lines as needed.

I have to thanks Krimson biographer Sid Smith for introducing me to the album – and like Sid has stated,  this is an album that has had a lot of play time recently. Most strongly recommended to Krim fans, and jazz fans alike, when it is released in September.

I checked out the samples... very cool. Hearing familar tunes played in a jazz context can be a real kick. Sort of like Gary Husband's piano versions of some Allan Holdsworth pieces.

This is a MUST for KC fans.

Wow that's really cool! Thanks for posting this

I especially like the second 21st clip.