Download Introducing the Laura Dubin Trio

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IntroducingtheLauraDubinTrio
IntroducingtheLauraDubinTriopresentsabrightnewlightintheworldofjazzpianoartistry.
Althoughshe’sonly24yearsold,pianist/composerLauraDubinhasaclear,maturevisionand
thefinelyhonedskillstoexecuteitinsuperbfashion.Studyingpianosincetheageofsixanda
graduateofthehighlyrespectedjazzeducationprogramatWesternMichiganUniversity,Laura
iscompletelyschooledinthetraditionsofthejazzlegacy.Shehaswoventhoselessonsintoa
musicalsensibilitythatisadventurous,inventiveandcontemporary,buttotallycognizantofthe
rootsfromwhichitevolved.
CitingmasterslikeOscarPeterson,BillEvans,DaveBrubeck,RedGarlandandCharlieParker
amongherinfluences,Laura’splayingispowerful,texturedandexciting.OnIntroducing…Laura
performstenofherowncompositionsinthespiritedcompanyofarhythmsectioncomprisedof
bassistSamWeberandherconstantdrummerandpartnerAntonioH.Guerrero.An
outstandingcomposerandawomanofmanyinterests,Lauradrawsuponabroadpalettefor
hervarioussourcesofinspiration.Conceivingrichthematiccontextsforexploration,Lauracreates
vividnarrativesforthestoriesshetellsthroughhermusic.
WeberandGuerreroareperfectlysuitedtothemusicaljourney.Thebassist’swoodysoundand
fluencyintheoftensuspended,butalwaysvitallyrhythmicapproachofLaura’scompositions
makehimanidealaccompanist.Antonioisfinelyattunedtoeverynuanceofthemusic,
accentingandcoloring,drivingandenergizing….andalwaysimpeccablytasteful.
Exceptionallyfluentintherichtapestryofstylesofthejazzpianolegacy,Lauraemploys
everythingfromragtimetofreeinherexpression,butalwayscohesive,nevercontrivedor
showy.Forexample,EasySpeakin’isasoloexcursioninstridepiano.Butthereisnosenseof
nostalgia,parodyoreventribute.Instead,it’safull-fledgedforayinthestyle,makinga
statementthatisclearlycontemporary.
OdetoO.P.,dedicatedtoherprimaryinfluenceOscarPeterson,showsLauraincomplete
commandofthemaster’sprofuselyswinging,butoh-so-relaxedstyle.Adeepbluelefthandand
someGospel-liketouchesthatwouldmakeBobbyTimmonssmile,furtherenhancedbya
brightlylyricalbasssoloandsterlingdrumming,makethishomageatotaldelight.
Therearethreemorededicationstolegendarymasters.Thealbum’sopener,SilverLiningisa
funkyhard-boppishdriverdedicatedtoHoraceSilver,withabriefglimpseofSisterSadieinthe
melodicline.Apotenttwo-fistedsolo-withastrikingunaccompaniedsectionplayedinthe
HistoryofJazzPiano-styleasemployedbyJakiByardandRogerKellaway-embraces
barrelhouse,blues,boogie-woogieandstrideinabreathtakingfashion.
ThankYouForYourTime,writtenforDaveBrubeckshortlyafterhispassing,isadelightfully
melodiouspiece,appropriatelybuiltonshiftingtimesignatures,infectiousshortphrasesand
occasionallytouchinguponthebaroqueelementsthatBrubeckoftenincorporatedintohismusic.
ThesecondmovementofthemagnificentJohnColtrane’stranscendentALoveSupreme
inspiredNewYear’sResolution.Propelledbyasolidlywalkingbassandsizzlingpolyrhythmic
drumming,thispiecepaystributetoTraneintheonlywayitshouldbepaid,bydelvinginto
one’sownpersonalexpressionwithpower,passionandlove.Withthethunderouschordsof
McCoyTyner’sstyle,Laura’ssoloisamodelofmodalintensityandexplosiveauthority.
Anotherfigureofheroicproportion–albeitafictionalone–istheinspirationforAtticus,the
herooftheclassicnovelToKillaMockingbird,AtticusFinch.Anappropriatelydignified
composition,itfeaturesdelectablybuoyantlyricismandabrilliantauralpasticheofdrum
colorationbyGuerrero.AnotherfictionalcharacterinspiredMr.Jeremy’sMackintosh–thistime
BeatrixPotter’sTheTaleofMr.JeremyFisher,afavoritefromLaura’schildhood.Anenchanting
balladandheartfeltmemoir,thepieceslowlybuildswithgentlyemphaticrhythmsandincreasing
intensity,butneverlosesitspoignantloveliness.
Normallifesituationswerethesourcesfortwootherpieces.Anxietyisajauntilyswinging,
darklyrumblingcompositionbuiltonasolidbassostinato,brightlycontrastedbyasamba-ish
bridge.Rhythmsshiftfromdeeplygroovedtorubatoandsparklingunisonlinesmarkthisitem.
AningeniousarrangingtouchcombinesLaura’slefthandwithbassanddrumstocreateariff
thatsoundslikedarklymutedbrassbehindascintillatingdrumsoloasthepiecebuildstoits
climax.
ctrl-alt-delisawhimsicalrompbasedonthecomputer-hellthateveryoneinthemodernage
occasionallyvisits.It’sabrisklyenergeticsojournfilledwithinfectiouslysuspendedrhythms,
take-no-prisonerspiano,straightforwardswingandedgyinventiveness–allcrisplypunctuated
byferviddrumsandstokedbysinewybass.
ThealbumclosesonavehementlyexplosivenotewithBarcelona,foroneofLaura’sfavorite
cities.Arapid-firethemelaunchesanimpassionedforaythatalternatesbetweenscorchingdrive
andbouncyswing.AudaciousSpanish-modepianochordsarereminiscentofColtrane’s
spectacularOlé,furtherevokedbyWeber’splaintivearcobassturn.Barcelonaisabold,uplifting
andstunningconclusiontoamostimaginativeandexpressivealbum.
Withthereleaseofthisremarkabledebutalbum,thejazzworldcanonlylookforwardtomore
fromthisextraordinarynewartist.
FormoreonLauraandthisCD,visitwww.lauradubin.com