The October Trio - Day In (2006)

Tracklist

01. Day in
02. Sunday
03. From 13 to 14
04. End of the struggle
05. Said in silence
06. Bounces
07. Don't read into it
08. Psalm 13
09. Theme

" A product of the coastal jazz community of Vancouver, BC, the October Trio (bassist Josh Cole, saxophonist Evan Arntzen,, and drummer Dan Gaucher) evolved through a continuous process of playing small shows in clubs around town. This release, produced by the trio and trumpeter/pianist Brad Turner, is a mature piece of soundcraft for an ensemble still in their 20s. The compositions (mostly written by Cole though credit for the title track is shared with the saxophonist) have a presence that is well developed, a full sound that is modern yet not derivative. Arntzen's sparse tenor style complements this approach, drawing his tone from older stylistic models, perhaps influenced by his father Tom Arntzen, an estimable player on the West Coast scene. The composition "Day In" reveals something of the personality of this unit, its hypnotic theme suggesting the influence of composer Wayne Shorter on these young musicians.

With such economy of expression in this trio, there is an understanding of the importance of silence in this music, the superfluous boiled away in the process of its creation. The trio swings mightily with Gaucher and Cole receiving the benefit of Turner's extensive recording experiences as a leader of his own bands. The recording capture of the bass allows the listener to hear the husky depth and bark of Cole's playing alongside Gaucher's restless percussion.

The trio favors a straight-ahead concept on this disc with nothing allowed to run on past its inspiration. It is often rumored that reputations in jazz are founded on a solo of 16 bars. This unit has taken that message to heart and the results are to be found here." - Steve Vickery, CODA magazine

"Tenor sax and clarinet player Evan Arnzten, drummer Dan Gaucher, and bassist Josh Cole are three young musicians who know how to turn thumbnail compositional sketches and elongated motifs into fully-former and realized performance pieces.
An impressive aspect of the group is its collective maturity (all three are in their twenties) and cool playfulness. Anrtzen in particular is someone to watch. Although he doesn't come across as the net James Carter in terms of technique, his soulful sound and careful pacing are what's required to get the point across. Shades of Sonny Rollins and Coltrane are evident, and on the close, "Theme," he produces some runs reminiscent of Steve Grossman when he was in his twenties and full of post-Trane intensity. But ... this is very much a unified performance-my point being that Cole and Gaucher should not be overlooked. This is a group that hopefully has plans to make the rounds outside the Canadian borders." - Chalres Winokoor, Cadence Magazine

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac CD-Rip]