TRYPTIQUE

TRYPTIQUE

ZSAN Records

Fern Lindzon, piano/composer; Colleen Allen, flute/saxophone; George Koller, bass/composer.

This trio of musicians, who call themselves ‘Tryptique,’ are kindred spirits.  Fern, the pianist of the group probably summed it up best when he said:

“Tryptique, it’s how we finish each other’s phrases.  It’s about trust, beauty and exploration of sound, tonality and form,” Fern Lindzon quoted in his press package.

I find their sound soothing and comforting.  It’s low-keyed, a little like chamber music but without the strings.

Actually, the title of their trio and this debut album is borrowed from the visual art world (triptych) that means either three works intended to be shown simultaneously, or a single work of art divided into three, similar to their album cover.

The opening song is composed by Doug Wilde and titled, “Wondering.”  Fern’s piano begins very European classically and sets the mood.  When Colleen Allen adds her woodwind part, it reinforces the melody and together, the duo is quite soothing. George Koller joins them on bass to complete the cohesive soundscape.

Track #2 is an original composition by Fern Lindzon.  This music sounds quite like the Wales part of the world, or Ireland, maybe Scottish inspired.  I picture kilts and people dancing a jig across the floor.  Titled “Canarios,”  Allen pulls out her flute on this arrangement and Fern’s piano is quite rhythmic.  George Koller’s bass grounds this piece.

Their tender and beautiful translation of the Antonio Carlos Jobim & Chico Buarque composition called “Retrato em Branco e Preto” is more classical than Latin, but quite stunning arranged in their way.  Allen’s saxophone floats over the Sonata-like presentation in a very jazzy way.

I was shocked at how they heard and arranged the famed Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn tune, “Satin Doll” with so much dissonance. It’s such a pretty tune, I just can’t hear it that way.  There was a flashback moment when Lindzon’s piano recalled Erroll Garner’s style.  But I found their creative idea and unusual arrangement somewhat annoying at the top of the tune and at the end.

Bassist George Koller has composed “Compassion Blues.”  He opens the song with a bass solo that is intriguing, however the song doesn’t sound at all like ‘the blues.’  Since the blues is an important part of jazz, I was hoping this song would lift out of the chamber music groove and introduce one of the essential jazz elements.  It did not.  Finally, on the very last tune “News for Bob” they play some real jazz with a walking bass, a swinging improvising saxophone and a blues base.

Tryptique’s music is entertaining and, for the most part, continues on the path of contemporary classical.  This is Easy Listening music for a quiet afternoon.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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