This is a drummer's trio, to be sure, one with room for Peter Erskine to display his delicacy as well as his melodic side; but the keystone here is John Taylor, the undersung English pianist. Known chiefly for his stints with the saxophonist John Surman and the Azymuth trio, Taylor is thoroughly pianistic, his two-handed, long-lined, and formal solos ranging across the piano, forming small compositions within compositions. But he is also free enough to open up space for the others to shine through, or even to disappear altogether from time to time. The trio's third member is Palle Danielsson, a bassist of refined taste and beautiful tone, but one also capable of powerful swing. All of which is another way of saying that this is an ECM trio par excellence. --John F. Szwed
