BOB NELL & MICHAEL BISIO TRIOS

WE ARE HERE

Origin Records

Bob Nell, piano; Michael Bisio, bass; Adam Greenberg & Austin Belluscio, drums.

There’s a certain warmth, camaraderie and understanding between people who have been close friends for over five decades.  You just know each other very well. Bob Nell and Michael Bisio are two such friends. Nell is from Montana and bassist Bisio lives in New York, still they’ve been sharing a musical conversation for more than fifty years. Like most musicians, miles don’t keep you apart.

Their album opens with a Nell composition called “Injury or Malpractice?” It begins quite classically but quickly takes a U-turn into jazz ‘swing’ with interesting “changes.” Bisio’s walking bass edges Bob Nell ahead during his impressive piano solo.  Nell has written all twelve compositions on this album.

In 1975, Nell and Bisio first met in Seattle.  Ever since, their musical careers have remained intertwined. Both have built individual and varied discographies, as band leaders and side men. On this project, they use two different drummers to join the trio and interpret Nell’s original songs. Over years, hese two friends remain strong and connected.  Like the album title says, “We Are Here.”

A tune Nell titled, “Trance-Lamentique” is quite dramatic. It reminds me a little bit of the 1960s hit jazz song that I used to love to hear Donald Byrd play called “Cristo Redentor.” That was a tune written by Duke Pearson. This is followed by “Blues for KB” a medium tempo, happy-go-lucky composition that’s slapped into place by Adam Greenberg’s drum licks.

“Elegy for Elephanthead” completely changes the mood. It’s a beautiful ballad. Each original song has its own distinct personality.  I enjoy them melodically, as well as performance pieces.

“The Aerial Lariat” features a drum solo by Greenberg.  The composition “I Had a Few Things in Mind” is tender and begs for a lyric. The meaning of  “Achromaticism” is the use or quality of having no color.  This can be in art, design or photography, focusing on black and white or gray coloration. Clearly this song is full of color, so its title puzzles me.

Austin Belluscio takes over the drum role on tunes 8 through 12. The jazz waltz called “Interweave” is another pretty tune by Nell.  Speaking of waltz’s, “Lucy’s Waltz” has a melody very similar to the Deniece Williams hit pop record called “Silly.” The ‘hook’ in Lucy’s Waltz is almost identical.  I was surprised by this.

Continuously, Nell and Bisio have circled back to one another to explore music projects and perform together. Here is another project that celebrates their long term friendship, their talents and the millions of miles traveled, only to wind up together again and announcing, “We Are Here!”

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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