Show Review

They say, “three’s a crowd,” but one wonders if “they” ever took the time to check out any of the world’s guitar trios. On a Sunday night in November at New York’s Jazz Standard, three was just right. In fact, there was a perfect chemistry and stability upheld by the unique balance and authenticity of each voice. With Coryell’s fluttering lines, Badi Assad’s perfect balance of rhythm and harmony, and Abercrombie’s unique melodic mastery, the performance was rich in the textures and sounds of world music. From refreshing Brazilian melodies doubled by Assad’s kalimba, vocals and vocal percussion, to more complex arrangements fueled by Coryell’s fire and Abercrombie’s masterful interplay, the music was adventurous, diverse and exciting. There were quiet and subtle moments of beauty that were perfect for the intimacy at the Standard, and moments where the three were together as a rhythmic force.

The Three Guitars is not your typical acoustic jazz. Coryell, dubbed “Godfather of Fusion” brings forth some of his most creative compositions, filled with catchy melodies and moving harmonic progressions that complement and encourage each player’s voice. This was not a night of standards and hits, but a journey through parts of the world and cultures beyond our own. The trio’s sound teaches a lesson in the power of the basic tonality of the acoustic guitar, as all three voices create room for each to be expressed, intertwined, and absorbed. The music is completely coherent without being too contemporary or “smooth,” and solos last only as long as they need to before returning back to choruses often refreshed by Assad’s tasteful, complementary vocals. Jungle sounds, Latin rhythms, Caribbean feels and a hint of Americana were just some of the ingredients in their masterful and commanding performance.

If you missed their recent run in New York at the Jazz Standard, and you can’t catch them on the road, be sure to check out their debut album, Three Guitars (Chesky Records 2003).