Trio OOO – “Days to Be Told” – [New Atlantis]

Thurston Hunger   1/8/2016   CD, Jazz

DC trio-o-o. led by Aaron Martin on alto. he’s
got the spark and fire of Archie Shepp’s tenor.
Mostly freescaping his way over the rhythm section
of Luke Stewart on upright and Sam Lohman on drums.
The lead-off cut has crisp drums from Lohman, a
quick snare and they are off. “Song of the Sun”
is the outlier, an indigenous improv, distant
ancient flute and tuned percussion. Then back
into new sounds that flow like vintage Village
Vanguard. Stewart walking and popping the bass up
and down while Martin sweetly scurries and hiccoughs.
“I Too” starts with a smokey setting by Stewart
and Lohman, Martin adds an air of mystery,
fluttering half-steps as he loops up and back
on flights, love the smoldering end! Another 10+
min cut to close, “There is Confusion” has
Stewart start with some tense jigsaw lines with
ample silence. Those same lines will be reprised
later at a much more rapid clip as Lohman rides
the hi-hat and racks up snare shots and Martin
veers in and out with solo work. Tasty.
-Thurston Hunger
Fun fact: producer Jason LaFarge and drummer Sam
Lohman were Blue Prostitutes with Steve Mackay.