Aloft is the vibrant trio debut from pianist and composer Bryn Roberts on Elastic Recordings
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After a long career as a sideman in the jazz world (Seamus Blake, Will Vinson, Alan Ferber, Jon Gordon, Caity Gyorgy), and as a collaborator with several singer-songwriters (Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams), Bryn Roberts has assembled his dream trio. Bassist Matt Penman and drummer Quincy Davis join Roberts on Aloft, a collection of five sparkling originals and novel takes on two standards
With five acclaimed releases as a leader with quintets, quartets, and most recently in duo format with guitarist Lage Lund, Roberts waited for just the right music, and just the right group, to make a meaningful contribution to the trio tradition. “Matt and Quincy would without a doubt bring this music to life with their originality, experience, and ability,” Roberts says, “and I felt I had acquired the maturity and perspective as a player and composer to add something new to the conversation.”
Roberts met bassist Matt Penman at one of the first informal sessions he played after moving to New York. Penman has toured and recorded as a member of groups led by Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, John Scofield, and was also a member of the SFJazz Collective for many years. On Aloft, he brings his beautiful sound, agile accompaniment, and great beat
Drummer Quincy Davis and Roberts joined a quartet led by saxophonist Jon Gordon and made an album at the storied Rudy Van Gelder Studio. Davis has also performed with a who’s who of jazz luminaries, including Tom Harrell, Steve Nelson, Aaron Diehl and Gretchen Parlato. Adept at shaping new music, Davis brings his propulsive sense of swing to Aloft, along with his fiery inspiration.
The trio of Roberts, Penman, and Quincy rehearsed only once, played a gig at Mezzrow that same night, and then recorded Aloft the following day. The trio works its way through five crafty originals by Roberts, including the opening track cheekily titled “Let’s Agree (That You Agree With Me)”, a misterioso minor blues number written in tribute to Portland drummer Ron Steen “Steen’s Scene”, and the airy Kenny Wheeler-esque waltz for which the album is named.
Aloft was recorded in Brooklyn, a place Roberts called home for fifteen years, and stands as a testament to long working relationships and friendships with other musicians. The album features Roberts’ take on two standards, a relaxed walking ballad version of Kurt Weill’s “My Ship”, and a contemporary take on “You Do Something To Me” by Cole Porter.
In performances of Roberts’ originals and the re-worked standards, the strong chemistry and interplay of the trio is on display, and there is ample room to hear the gifts of each player featured throughout the tight, well-paced album.
