Myra Melford Trio - Alive in the House of Saints Part 1

Release date 2017

This live date from 1993 from Myra Melford's piano trio is among her most remarkable recordings. For starters, "Evening Might Still," while it quotes James Joyce in the title, comes out steaming, fully formed, quoting extemporaneously, of all things, Vince Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown Christmas" theme. Then it builds an improvisatory base from it that never loses touch with the original and yet is completely its own composition. For nearly 12 minutes, Melford's trio -- which includes Lindsey Horner on double bass and Reggie Nicholson on drums -- works through three solos and emerges on the other side seemingly heralding Guaraldi's melodic invention, but with a pianistic funkiness of Horace Silver.

From there, Melford revs up the engine, moving the trio into her own vision of meter, counterpoint, and rhythm. "Parts I & II Frank Lloyd Wright Goes West to Rest" is all rhythm section, time, timbre, color, and a study in improvisational consonance. To move from here into the nearly post bop "And Silence" is to, in some sense, change the feeling of the entire gig. Here, something laid-back creeps in and then gives way as Melford pushes through the augmented elements some mighty large chords, all the while keeping it in the pocket of the groove. While this live set may not be as avant-guard as her studio work, it is far more satisfying; it showcases what a fine composer and pianist Melford is, and how telepathic this trio is.

AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek