“LIVE”
Lynne Arriale Trio | Motema Music 2006
By Jim Santella

This CD/DVD set was recorded at the 36th annual Burghausen Jazz Week last year. The trio, which has been together since 1993, brings fresh ideas to the forum for this concert date, which took place in a large auditorium with excellent acoustics. The performance swings comfortably, and yet it's loaded with surprises.

Pianist Lynne Arriale is a master of cool persuasion. She likes to caress the keyboard and let things settle in gradually. Whether she's interpreting a warm ballad or an uptempo romp, she ensures that the music will proceed naturally without forcing the issue. Every note is to be savored for the value that it adds. Her performance is delicate; yet she swings her trio with ease.

Lyrical beauty remains most important in this performance. The DVD (83 minutes) presents the full concert, while the CD (69 minutes) captures all selections save one. The camera zooms in, pans the stage, and captures each artist effectively. All the emotion of the trio's performance comes alive as they "get down." One particularly interesting camera angle shows the pianist and bassist working together, with the drummer's active reflection coming by way of the flat surface of the piano's lacquered body. The DVD also includes additional special features, including interview excerpts and valuable commentary.

Songs such as "Come Together," "Seven Steps to Heaven," "Bemsha Swing" and "Iko Iko" are probably familiar to any audience. The group assembled for this occasion felt that intuitively. Arriale puts dramatic intensity into every piece without forcing a thing. Her interpretations flow naturally with plenty of heartfelt soul. The passion in her music makes this recommended performance an affair to remember.

Track Listing: Iko Iko; Home; Braziliana; Arise; Come Together; Flamenco; Seven Steps to Heaven; Mountain of the Night; Bemsha Swing.
Personnel: Lynne Arriale: piano; Jay Anderson: bass; Steve Davis: drums.

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