Kurt Rosenwinkel Standards Trio: REFLECTIONS (2009)

Kurt Rosenwinkel – Guitar
Eric Revis – Bass
Eric Harland – Drums

(SONGS: Reflections, You Go To My Head, Fall, East Coast Love Affair, Ask Me Now, Ana Maria, More Than You Know, You’ve Changed)

The trio comprises Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar) together with Eric Revis (bass) and Eric Harland (drums).
There are 8 tracks on the album, all of which are standards with the exception of the one original tune – East Coast Love Affair
Included on the album are two tunes penned from each Thelonius Monk (Reflections, Ask Me Now)and Wayne Shorter. (Fall, Ana Maria) The other three tunes are well known ballads and each are given a new fresh new lease of life by this exemplary trio.

Reflections is the opening track. It’s a mature offering, warranting continual listening as there is much to absorb.
From the unaccompanied chordal introduction which returns to end the tune, or the conversational bass solo, or Kurt’s fluent and inventive chordal passages that lead us into his single line solo, there is much to like about this track. It does set the tone for the rest of the album which continues to deliver. Of particular note is the fresh treatment of the ballads You Go To My Head and Ask Me Now, as well the trio’s approach to the Wayne Shorter composition Ana Maria where Kurt solos over the form leaving the phrygian passage for the outro. Its also interesting to hear the new version of East Coast Love Affair, a song previously recorded on the album of the same name in 1996. What was on the original recording used as the outro returns here as the introduction. This song has a timeless quality and sits well amongst the rest of the album.

Rosenwinkel’s voice is strong and is shaping a new era of Jazz Guitar.
His single note lines are refreshing and his command of voicings, particularly as used in his improvisations add a color that has been perhaps overlooked in recent times.

Certainly one of my favourite albums of 2009.
Review: John Pin