[SACD-R][OF] The Great Jazz Trio – Autumn Leaves - 2008 (Jazz)

Amazon Customer Reviews:

By Jan P. Dennis:

About as good as you can get.
Great Jazz Trio, indeed. For once the hype is true.

It’s been a marvelous past twelve months for old jazz guys–stunning releases from Ahmad Jamal (In Search of Momentum), Abdullah Ibrahim (African Magic), Roy Haynes (Love Letters). And now, perhaps the best of all, The Great Jazz Trio’s Autumn Leaves.

What I love about this disc is how effortless great playing and musicianship become in the hands of the absolute masters–and how listenable. This is a disc you could feel equally good about as an introduction for your skeptical friends to acoustic improvised music, or merely as a vehicle for basking in sonic glories.

Perhaps most noticibly, Elvin Jones (drums) shows why he’s undoubtedly THE standout drummer of his generation: he simply gets more out of his kit than anyone else. Proof? His mind-boggling playing on “Caravan,” initially, with the restless, throbbing vibe he creates, then with the incredible solo he casually rips off. But he consistently dazzles. Brother Hank on piano’s no slouch either. With a deftness approaching magical proportions, taste out the wazoo, deep swing, and a profoundly grounded blooziness, he shows why Detroit (Tommy Flanigan, Kirk Lightsey) is the jazz piano capital of the world.

The ringer is Richard Davis. Not one of the Jones brothers, not as well known (perhaps) as either of them, he nevertheless seems the absolutely perfect choice for the bass chair. He takes center stage on “Bye Bye Blackbird” and doesn’t disappoint. He’s got that great woody tone fully on display here as he effortlessly spins off some slick opening lines and exits with a stunning arco outro.

Standards have seldom sounded this good, and these Old Masters raise the bar impossibly high for their young counterparts.

By D. Durham:

I really like the tracks on this album.. uh.. until about 1 or 2 minutes into each peice. The drummer could not be more in the way, more annoying, rambunctious, out of balance and out of place after a minute or two into almost every track. There are only a couple of tracks where this isn’t the case. Granted, a drum solo is fine from time to time, but this is rediculus. Wanting some nice music to relax or have playing in the background while company is over, this album does NOT work. Ok, so maybe thats not it’s purpose, but still, no thanks. Maybe it looked cooler in person with arms flailing faster than the eye can perceive.

SA-CD Net Reviews:

By stvnharr:

The Great Jazz Trio is a real jazz lovers treat. These 10 standards are all played with beauty, grace, and finesse by 3 guys who have been around a long long time. Great music!!!
The sound on this disc is simply the best recorded sound on any digital playback medium I have ever heard. The instruments are all rather close miked, as to be expected. But the sound is much more real and live than the usual close miked sound. This is the sound that all others should be striving to reproduce.
The price of the 88′s discs is high. You do get something for it in the great sound and great music. What you don’t get is liner notes in English. The website has English, seems like English liner notes could be supplied as well.

By Barb:

H. Jones p, R. Davis b, E. Jones ds, Eighty-Eights 2002.
Ten well known standards are played by that real great jazz trio. I am not very familiar with Richard Davis but Hank Jones and Elvin Jones are two of my favourites. Both are masters of their instruments and they do a lot of thrilling soloing here. If you like powerful drum solos, here are lots. But it is also fantastic how skilfully these guys are playing together. This is a must-have disc for lovers of the classic jazz trio and straight ahead jazz played with perfection.
The sound is perfect, rich of colour, very good soundstage and imaging, air for the instruments to breath, very dynamic, brilliant.