Andrew Hill - Les Trinitaires (1998)

Les Trinitaires finds master composer Andrew Hill alone at the piano in a small French club just 18 months before recording his well-regarded ensemble recording Dusk. This is a stark, moody set, not the place to begin to explore Hill's prickly work with its angular, elusive melodies. His solo presentation is stark and ruminative. For those already engaged with his work, this offers a glimpse of the skeletal foundations of compositions, especially "Dusk" and "15/8," which would later appear on Dusk in full ensemble form.

These versions of the compositions are similar to seeing the sketches made for an oil painting. The session also includes two newly minted compositions, "Metz" and "Labyrinth," which were written during his stay at the club. Hill's rendering of the two standards "What's New?" and "I'll Be Seeing You" with their dark, dense altered chords and oddly loping left-hand figures give insights into this important composer's sonic world.

Tracks:

01 - Joanne
02 - What's New
03 - Little Spain
04 - 15.08
05 - Metz
06 - Dusk (take 1)
07 - Labyrinth
08 - Seven
09 - Dusk (take 2)
10 - I'll Be Seeing You

Personnel:

Andrew Hill - piano