Trio' "Love is Here to Stay" ( i-produce) 2005

Shigeo Fukuda—Piano
Yasuhito Mori—Bass
Yasushi Ichihara—Drums
    

The second release by Trio' is polished, sophisticated piano trio jazz at its best. Slow, gentle and very personal, the music here is no hurry to prove anything. Instead, the trio works through their tunes with an elegant and self-composed approach. The music swings without forcing anything; the sound arises naturally from the trio's close communiqué. And satisfying music it is.

The songs all have their own distinct personality, yet together form a nicely poised unity. The opening tune "Bitter Sweet" is just that. The lead line edges forward with nicely held energy that waits to burst open, yet never quite does. Instead, notes are dropped like slow heavy raindrops, with each of the three keeping a coordinated, undisturbed tempo. "Just Be Happy My Love" follows with an open, friendly drive that gives everyone in the trio a chance to solo hard. "Mori's Waltz" is a real beauty of a tune, layering melody line on melody line over a waltz rhythm that is relaxed enough to groove, then hesitate at just the right times.

All the tunes except the title track were penned by one or another member of the trio. Their writing is confident and exacting. The chord changes sound like classics given a fresh updating that appeals in more ways than most piano trios. The influence of Bill Evans is everywhere apparent on this recording, with the lush harmonies, floating bass lines and trim, focused drum work. Still, they sound like themselves. The trio focuses on their own sense of beauty, no matter what musical vocabulary might be drawn on.

That influence, though, is far from distracting, but instead fully incorporated into the accomplished feel of the trio. When they finally get to the title track at the end, the thicker bass line and open-handed piano dig into the Gershwin nugget with their own laid-back sound and swing. Whether on the upbeat "Shine" or the melancholy bass melody of "Momo," one always gets the feeling of being in very good hands. The trio has a confident, accomplished approach that lets you rest very, very easy inside their songs. This is late-night music, calm and graceful.