by Trevis R. Badeaux

Jazz is not just a style of music. It's a conversation.

That's according to Lynne Arriale, whose jazz trio is expected to lead the conversation Friday at The Ballroom downtown. The performance is part of the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana Jazz Notables series.

"We take it for granted, but we improvise all the time when speaking. Both know the language. It's very similar in jazz. The audience picks up on the magic of what's going on between the musicians. Any moment the music can take a completely different direction," said Arriale, who will be joined by Thomson Kneeland on bass and Steve Davis on drums.

"Over years and years of study, learning the proper grammar, a child can become eloquent. The same can be said for a jazz musician, who dedicates thousands of hours to imitation and study," she said.

The trio intends to exhibit mastery of the language as they "converse" over the basic chord changes for Blackbird and Come Together by the Beatles, the classic tune Summertime and other songs that may - at least on the surface - sound familiar.

"The trio format allows incredible intimacy, but we can sound like an orchestra at the same time.We have a lot of flexibility because we are tuned in together. There's a real trust and freedom that comes through in the music," Arriale said.

The audience is a pivotal, unofficial member of the Lynne Arriale Trio, said Arriale.

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