Bryce Rohde Trio - Short Way Home

All Music Guide

Although this is pianist Bryce Rohde's group, it is drummer Lee Charlton who was the mover and shaker in getting this music to disc. It was recorded in 1978 and sat in a drawer filled with tapes until Charlton and the Music in the Vines label made this exemplary jazz performance available to the public. This is not the first release like this that Charlton took the lead in getting issued. Charlton saw to it that material Ellis Marsalis recorded in 1968 was brought to the surface 32 years after it was recorded. As on this Rohde session, Charlton was the drummer with Marsalis as well. Rohde, who was founding member of the seminal Australian Jazz Quartet, favors his own compositions, which reflect the influence of George Russell's Lydian concept, which allows him plenty of freedom to move his musical ideas from the mind to the keyboard, and this comes through in full force on "Windows of Arques." To further remind listeners of where he's coming from, this album kicks off with a medley of ...ballad selections lasting almost 20 minutes from another of Rohde's albums, Turn Right at New South Wales. Rohde also has a way of integrating each instrument in the trio to create a single voice instead of making the piano the dominant vehicle. This makes the bass of Joe Carroll and Charlton's drums major players in the evolution of the composer's harmonic philosophy. Listen how these three form a cohesive unit on such cuts as "Soft Sounds-Taste of Wine" without losing their individual identity. Charlton plans to revive more of this music by Rohde and his other companions recorded during this time period. Something to look forward to. - Dave Nathan, All Music Guide Read more Less