Peter Evans

With Petter Eldh mostly concentrating on a walking double bass pulse and Jim Black’s drumming emphasizing standard patterns, Extra is closer to a contemporary jazz session then is usually expected from trumpeter Peter Evans. But just because the performances lean towards expected beats and melodies, the extra lies in how the trio members bring a distinct individuality to this program.

A terse– eight tunes in 34 minutes – but thorough session, timbres from piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn and piano (Evans); synthesizer (Eldh) and electronics (Black) are added at points to break up the narratives. Not that they often need extra oomph since Evans’ build up of portamento impulses includes enough growling triplets, pauses, pointillist stabs and stratospheric flutters to keep things interesting. No mere technical flaunting they’re used to advance the themes.

Adding to the concept, Evans sneaks a brief classic bebop quote into his solo on “Freaks”, otherwise given over to brass shakes, and half-valve squeezes and Eldh ends the tune with a thoroughly contemporary synth drone. Plus Eldh’s string-buzzing introduction to Movement” directly quotes from “Frère Jacques”, although the exposition is subsequently dominated by the

trumpeter’s burbling prestissimo notes and a machine-vibrated overlay.

More subdued than usual, Black limits his acknowledged percussion expertise to steadying the rhythm enhancement throughout. Even when the drummers gets a mini-showcase of thumps, bumps, clanks, clips, ruffs and rebounds on “Nova” its deliberately placed following a mid-range squeal and piano chording from Evans and followed by more piano comping and an undulating trumpet sting.

Other session dedicated to Evans’ brass explorations have confirmed his role as an explorer and innovator in charting the farthest reaches of brass experimentation. Yet Extra adds something extra to that reputation. With the Swedish bassist and the American drummer long-time associates of the trumpeter, this stripped down bass and drums accompaniment creates sounds that should tempt modern swing fanciers as much as those who revel in constantly stretching musical boundaries.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Freaks  2. In See  3. Boom 4. Nova 5. Movement 56  6. Underworld   7. Fully Born 8. The Lighthouse

Personnel: Peter Evans (piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn and piano); Petter Eldh (bass and synthesizer) and Jim Black (drums and electronics)