Frank Harrison Trio

“Sideways”

(Linus Records LDCD01)

One of the first album reviews I ever wrote was of pianist Frank Harrison’s excellent trio recording “First Light” released on Basho Records way back in 2006. The follow up has been a long time coming, mainly due to Harrison’s commitments with the phenomenally hard working Gilad Atzmon but it has been well worth the wait.

“Sideways”, released on what I assume to be Harrison’s own Linus imprint, exhibits many of the same virtues as its predecessor in a mix of memorable and melodic original tunes and artful deconstructions of a handful of jazz standards. The interplay between Harrison on piano, Irish born drummer Stephen Keogh (who also appeared on “First Light”) and new bassist Davide Petrocca is consistently excellent and the whole album exudes intelligence and good taste. 

Listeners who only know of Harrison through his work with Israeli saxophonist Gilad Atzmon may be surprised to hear just how good an acoustic pianist he is, readily able to combine a classical lightness of touch with a thorough understanding of the jazz tradition. Although I’ve mainly seen him with Atzmon I’ve also witnessed Harrison performing with Italian saxophonist Tommaso Starace and Irish guitarist Louis Stewart, his work with the latter featuring his most straight ahead playing to date. Having enjoyed both his trio recordings I’m now looking forward to seeing Harrison, Keogh and Petrocca on their forthcoming UK tour (dates listed below).

In the meantime there’s always this album to enjoy with Harrison and his colleagues commencing with “Autumn Leaves”, one of the most familiar jazz standards of them all. It’s to the trio’s credit that they find something fresh to say about this old chestnut with Harrison’s sparkling piano lines shadowed by Keogh’s colourful, neatly energetic drumming and with Petrocca initially filling an anchoring role. Petrocca then comes into his own with a fluid and imaginative bass solo before Harrison really stretches the boundaries of the tune in conjunction with Keogh as the piece draws to a close. I mentioned in my review of “First Light” that Harrison’s playing of standards is “like a more restrained Brad Mehldau” and that’s something that I feel still applies. Harrison uses less notes than Mehldau but he’s a highly lyrical and melodic player and makes every one of them count.   

Harrison’s own composition “One” has the kind of melody that sounds timeless and this provides the inspiration for another superb Petrocca solo, the bassist more than adequately filling the shoes of the Scot Aidan O’Donnell who is now living and playing in New York.. Harrison himself plays sparingly and Keogh’s drumming is immaculate as always, subtly colouring the music with sticks, brushes and well chosen accents.

Antonio Carlos Jobim’s bossa nova “Dindi” is played at a slightly faster tempo than is usual with the quiet bustle of Keogh’s drums driving the song forward. Harrison’s solo has a probing, almost feverish quality and there’s another example of Petrocca’s remarkable dexterity before Keogh and Harrison trade ideas in exemplary fashion in a series of captivating drum/piano breaks.

A second Harrison original, “Flowing At Rest” has an ECM style sense of space and beauty with Keogh’s exquisite drum and cymbal work complementing Harrison’s supremely lyrical piano superbly. Keogh’s work throughout the album invites comparisons with the playing of such drum colourists as Jon Christensen and the late Paul Motian. 

George Gershwin’s much performed standard “How Long Has This Been Going On” is given the lyrical and spacious Harrison treatment with sumptuous, flowing, languid piano from the leader and delicate brush work from Keogh underscored by the purr of Petrocca’s bass. It’s a masterclass in good taste and quiet restraint.

The theme to Harrison’s final original, “Song For Roo”, almost sounds as if it could be a jazz standard. The interplay between the three instruments in an intense passage mid tune is engrossing with Keogh’s drums sometimes taking over the lead. Harrison then resumes control for a more lyrical restatement of the theme.

Arthur Schwarz’s “You And The Night Of The Music”, a tune often played at a headlong tempo, is initially given a radical, slowed down treatment with the quiet but intense interplay between the instruments now the focus. The theme appears here and there as a snippet of melody that provides the jumping off point for the trio’s improvisations. Harrison’s subsequent solo speeds things up and there are also features for bass and drums. One can imagine that live versions of this piece will be substantially different each evening. 

Following the complexities of the Schwarz piece the album ends on a note of unadorned simplicity and beauty with Harrison’s solo piano performance of the folk melody of “The Riddle Song” aka “I gave My Love A Cherry” which later mutated into “The Twelfth Of Never”. It’s a lovely way to finish an often beautiful album- even it does stir memories of the sickly saccharine 70’s version of “Twelfth Of Never” by Donny Osmond.

“Sideways” has been a long time coming but has been well worth the wait. It’s an intelligent, musicianly album with some first rate original tunes and some ingenious interpretations of standards. Recorded in Berlin and London by engineers Rainer Robben and Andrew Tulloch the sound is again immaculate and the playing likewise. Bass player Davide Petrocca, an Italian living in Germany represents an exciting new discovery and is a major factor in the album’s success. Although little known to UK audiences he has accrued a considerable reputation in Europe where he has toured with guitarist Martin Taylor, pianist Monty Alexander and many others. 

Harrison and the trio are currently touring Europe before returning to the UK where they will be touring throughout February. Frank’s forthcoming schedule sourced from his website http://www.frankharrison.net is reproduced below and also includes appearances with Gilad Atzmon, Tommaso Starace and vocalist Tina May;

January 2012

20
Frank Harrison Trio + Joo Kraus
Jazztone
L?rrach, Germany

21
Frank Harrison Trio + Joo Kraus
Jazz in der Mitte
Reutlingen, Germany

22
Frank Harrison Trio
Hemingway Lounge
Karlsruhe

24
Frank Harrison Trio
Torino Jazz Club
Torino, Italy

26
Frank Harrison Trio
Le Cantine dell’Arena
Verona, Italy

27
Frank Harrison Trio
Laurin Bar
Bolzano, Italy

February 2012
03
Frank Harrison Trio
Derby Jazz
Derby

04
Frank Harrison Trio
Cheltenham Jazz Club
Cheltenham

05
Tina May (afternoon)
Jagz
Ascot

05
Frank Harrison Trio (evening)
Herts Jazz
Welwyn Garden City

06
Frank Harrison Trio
JazzHastings
Hastings

08
Frank Harrison Trio
Pizza Express Dean St
London

09
Frank Harrison Trio
Watermill Jazz
Dorking

10
Frank Harrison Trio
Fleece Jazz
Leavenheath, Colchester

16
Tommaso Starace
National Theatre foyer
London

17
Frank Harrison Trio
Wakefield Jazz Club
Wakefield

18
Gilad Atzmon
Sherborne Jazz
Sherborne

19
Gilad Atzmon
Ipswich Jazz Club
Ipswich

29
Frank Harrison Trio
St Michael at the North Gate
Oxford

COMMENTS;

29/07/2012

Brian Soundy wrote;

Frank Harrison played a stonking set at Jazz On The Hill directly following the Olympics Opening Ceremony… The later than usual set, which started at 10 30pm was a great show case for Frank’s Music…Playing tracks from his CD ‘Sideways’ Franks captured an already excited audience with his light and building piano technique. It was the close to a very hot and eventful day.

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