Jeff Williams - Bloom (2019) [Hi-Res]

It speaks volumes when the bustling opening track of drummer Jeff Williams' piano trio release, 'Bloom', is revealed as "just us warming up, getting our headphone mix together"! For that's the remarkable, spontaneous quality which his partnership with pianist Carmen Staaf and double bassist Michael Formanek delivers across ten numbers individually penned by each, plus a Buster Williams interpretation.

Jeff Williams has worked alongside Stan Getz, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, and John Abercrombie, in addition to leading his own groups for some time; and for the last few years, in the States, he has played in saxophonist Dan Blake's quartet with pianist Leo Genovese and bassist Dmitry Ishenko. "One time when Leo was unavailable, Carmen stepped in, and I felt a real connection with her playing", recalls the drummer. "We talked about the idea of a trio, after which I ran into Michael (we first met in the 1970s, gigging together in New York). That was the eureka moment - it bloomed outta nowhere, hence the album title."

Including new piano trio arrangements of earlier numbers, Jeff jests that he shares Thelonious Monk's attitude (when the great piano man was asked why he plays the same tunes all the time) that "I want people to hear them!" The harmonic beauty of "Another Time", for instance - originally recorded with two horns and bass - is enhanced, thanks to Staaf's invention and the colourful refractions of Williams' cymbals (including a1950s K Zildjan ride); and the furtive, chromatic, 7/8 propulsion of "Scrunge" segues into impatiently-grooving "Search Me".

Personnel: Jeff Williams (drums), Carmen Staaf (piano), Michael Formanek (double bass)