CHRIS MADSEN, DANA HALL, CLARK SOMMERS

THREEFOLD

Calligram Records

Chris Madsen, tenor & soprano saxophones; Clark Sommers, acoustic bass; Dana Hall, drums & cymbals.

Clark Sommers strongly pumps his acoustic bass beneath the opening song composed by Chris Madsen. Madsen’s soprano saxophone rings pure and emotionally present above the rhythm of bass and drums. The song is titled “Digital Harvest.” He and the bassist have written all the music for this album, four compositions each.

This trio’s original story is quite modern, like the music itself.

“Originally, as was the case with our first album, I imagined this trio’s role to be more one of addressing canonical material, exploring lesser-known jazz pieces and standards, putting our minds together to collectively interpret other people’s music in our own way,” explains Madsen.

However, on this release, Madsen and Clark Sommers have become composers who write specifically for their chord less trio.

“We all love the rhythmic feeling of swing as much as other types of grooves, so we made sure not to stray from that,” affirms Chris Madsen.

You can hear their love of swing on Track #1 and #2, also composed by Madsen. The second song called “Shadow People” exhibits timing that’s surprising. They offer the listener a 6/4 groove inspired by Bob Mintzer’s big band arrangement of “Black Sand.”  The propelling rhythm from Dana Hall’s trap drums pushes the music forward with a teeny bit of influence from the drum rhythms that made Ahmad Jamal’s “Poinciana” tune so memorable. However, this song is far more provocative and improvised than “Poinciana.”  Hall is given the spotlight to show off his strong percussive talents on the trap drums.

Somehow this trio manages to balance their roots in traditional jazz, swing, bebop, with their love of contemporary and modern jazz.  Collectively, they have created their own style and sound. By adding this new flavor of becoming composers, they have an even deeper opportunity to make this group stylized and unique.

A tune called “Mads” was written by Sommers, as was “Hidden Message” a very beautiful ballad.  It quickly becomes one of my favorites, along with “Dream Music” with it’s haunting musical ‘hook’ and Madsen’s soulful saxophone presence. The Sommers bass line is hypnotic and his solo shows off his mastery of the double bass. Drummer Hall lays down a funky groove. Unified, the three musicians clearly are good friends. There is a warm camaraderie, with each seeming to know where the other is going musically, even before they make a move or a musical transition.

A Sommer’s song called “Revolving Door” is full of energy, excitement and swing!  The breaks in the arrangement build the tension.  Hall’s drums are on fire, and Sommer walks his bass as though his life depends on it. I’m swept up in their energy.  This quickly become another one of my favorites on this album of original music.

This Chicago trio brings excellence and ingenuity to the bandstand.  They are both imaginative and seasoned on their instruments.  The chemistry between these musicians is palpable.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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