Window Trio Live "Hamon" (Panormo Music 2007)
Tomoya Hara – Guitar
Mark Tourian – Bass
Brian Floody – Drums
Recorded live, "Hamon" really captures the feeling of being there in the clubs. That feeling's especially nice since this trio is calling all the right tunes and playing them with a heartful immediacy that comes from looking customers right in the eyes. The variation, pacing and set list make you feel like you are really there in the clubs of Sendai and Fukushima where it these tunes were recorded last year.
Unlike some other small label recordings, the sound quality here is excellent. The detail of the instruments, force of the speakers and fullness of tones sound live, in all the many positive senses of the word. Great sound mixing makes a huge difference when listening, and hats off (and headphones on) to bassist Tourian for his mastering.
The first number "Hamon," by Hara has an open-ended Pat Metheny feel to it. Hara stretches out comfortably on electric guitar and really jams. Floody keeps the rhythms full of the right kind of counter-friction. Tourian's bass joins with the guitar to create one seamlessly united sound. After this energetic opener, Tourian's "Nina" brings things back into acoustic mode, with great, delicate handling by everyone. The softness extends to their cover of "Corcovada," a tune that has such delicate complexities when played on acoustic guitar. Here, too, Hara's guitar and Tourian's bass weave tightly and smoothly into one.
"Pretty Pants" is a funky, bluesy jam, one of those tunes that evolve on the road. It's great to hear the three take off and play loud. Hara's rock-ish distortion and fusion-ish toying around always work. He gets a great tone out of his electric and blends it into the total sonic landscape. Floody really whacks the skins, too.
"Autumn Leaves" brings the electric guitar back into more pristine jazz territory. The lovely handling of melody and intimate cross talk with bass and drums move the song beyond the limitations of the world of jazz standards. As on "Corcovada," the trio makes the well-known tune come alive and sound fresh. The trio moves so easily together, their intimacy draws your attention with its non-standard closeness.
The same happens even more strongly when Hara returns to acoustic for "When You Wish upon a Star." The easy pace of pretty chords and soft statement of melody sound nothing like the overplayed, often corny versions the song often becomes in other hands. Hara's chords glisten like stars on a summer night, while Tourian's bass sounds like a father lullaby-ing his child to sleep. Thanks to the trio for rescuing this gem of a song from the world of cheap pop and turning it back into a lovely ballad of longing and desire.
The busy, fun, electric "Why You Always" closes out the CD set, with a neat set of chords from Hara behind Tourian's arco playing of the lead. The bass is just as melodic here as the guitar, and it seems an easy switch for the two, so closely do they play on everything else. This bluesy rave-up punches up the fun feel of a live show, before the "encore," a naturally elegant version of "Amazing Grace," closes out the evening, or rather closes the CD. This last song just feels right. In fact, this entire CD feels right. Wish I'd been there!