Reviews
Thompson/Jenkins/Campbell: Trio
East: Stop-Start
(Sons of Sound SSPCD025)
 "Trio
East, a group of jazz academics in upstate New
York, manages to produce enough
harmonic definition and richness of sonority among
trumpet, bass and drums to make a keyboard seem
almost superfluous…. A
former student of Peter Erskine, Thompson shares
his teacher's deftness.." [read
the review]
— Indianapolis Star,
June 2005
"…excellent album… they’ve
got chops.… Of the nine tracks
on Stop-Start,
three are impressive originals by Jenkins.
The trumpeter by turns delivers rapid-fire runs
and displays a more economic sensibility,
sometimes repeating a two-note figure to develop
a groove…Trio East has a good thing
going and we hope its next visit will be sooner
rather than later." [read
the review]
— All About Jazz New York,
May 2005
"Clay Jenkins succeeds… is
particularly resourceful in investing ideas.
He evokes some intense imagery on “Up Against
the Wall” and
he changes intonation and direction to give the
tune some good depth. They rework “Soul
Eyes” with a sensitive delicacy… with
Thompson's exemplary use of the brushes adding
to the lure,… Thompson
and Campbell have an engaging conversation that's
well worth eavesdropping on." [read
the review]
— All About Jazz,
May 2005
"Each brings a singular
skill and presence to the recording.… Thompson
does a brilliant job of filling in spaces while playing
with dynamics and finesse.
…this date is a refreshing
and challenging endeavor. Playing is excellent
all the way through. Recording quality
reminds one of the old Blue Note dates…. For
fans of traditional jazz styles played with contemporary
skill and knowledge, this set is worthy of your
attention. Drummers everywhere
will enjoy this one… check it out; you
will not be disappointed!" [read
the review]
— All About Jazz,
April 2005
"Jenkins’ pungent solos
and declarative presence set a fierce tone on
several numbers, one that’s more than matched
by the counterpoint and interaction of Thompson
and Campbell…. Here’s
a group that deserves at least a small share
of the publicity being given to the Bad Plus,
and they’re also far more grounded
in the jazz sensibility." [read
the review]
— Nashville City Paper ,
April 2005
"If you're anywhere near as much of
a jazz fan as I am, you'll jump right on
this! …this
is a precision team that are "wound" right
into each others' psyches. This
is th' kinda' jazz that has "meat" on
it's bones, with somethin' for each & ev'ry
listener to groove to. If
you've never really listened to much jazz before,
this is one of the best places for you to start… I
mean, it's ALL here! I give this one a MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!." [read
the review]
— Improvijazzation Nation,
2005
"…bursts out
of the gate into a running improvisation
that sizzles. There is no
need for gadgetry when the musicians know how to
maximize the potentials fo their instruments…
Clay Jenkins skillfully lets the phrases breathe,
then pauses to draw us in to the next set of artistic
choices. If this trio was not so proficient, Rich
Thompson's drum "part" could itself be
holistically analyzed as a solo improvisation.
Beautiful… celebrates
the best of bop jazz. Rich Thompson's
drums run along the edge of combustion. Trio
East plays with several trios worth of musical
business… Selflessness
makes this album greate for intelligent fans of
well-played bop." [read
the review]
— Jazz Improv,
December 2004
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