THE GREAT JAZZ TRIO
Someday My Prince Will Come

Columbia 88s

The Great Jazz Trio’s Columbia 88s recording Someday My Prince Will Come, will forever be remembered as the final recording by drummer Elvin Jones. In so far as it brings the excellent performances here to more listeners’ attention that’s fine, but the music contained on this CD already merits such attention without any backstory whatsoever.

The full Elvin Jones arsenal is on display right on the opening number, a kinetic version of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” While Elvin roils and bobs, throwing punches with the precision of a prize fighter, pianist brother Hank Jones plays deftly with the tune’s rhythmic and harmonic elements. The consistently underrated Richard Davis provides an anchoring presence much the way that Ron Carter quietly does on any project he’s involved with. Davis is one of the great jazz bassists, and should be mentioned up there with Carter and Ray Brown. He provides a solid sense of time, but also contributes to the group’s overall texture. Listen to his solo on “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” and you are instantly aware that he is in ever way the equal of the two famous musical brothers on either side of him. In fact, part of what makes this CD so enjoyable is that everyone is ffree to do exactly what they usually do here, and they compliment each other perfectly. On “Moose the Mooche” it is impossible to choose a winner between Hank’s light swinging touch at the keyboard, Davis’ bowed solo, or Elvin’s tight, controlled brush work. It’s a totally democratic group of equals, in the best jazz tradition.

“Yasohachi Itoh selected the tunes and the personnel,” Jones explains. “It was patterned after the so-called Great Jazz Trio, which consisted of Ron Carter, Tony Williams and myself. That was the basic idea behind it.”

Founded in 1976 by Hank Jones with drummer Tony Williams and bassist Ron Carter, The Great Jazz Trio performed regularly at the Village Vanguard resulting in their first album, Love For Sale. The original trio recorded numerous albums including Direct From L.A. and Milestones, but by the mid-80s the Trio, with Jones at the helm, enjoyed a revolving cast that included such drummers as Al Foster, Roy Haynes and Jimmy Cobb, and bassists Eddie Gomez, George Mraz and Mads Vinding. The Trio has recorded with such all-star guests as Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Nancy Wilson. At the center of The Great Jazz Trio’s music is Hank Jones’ sensitive and sublime piano work, built on his exceptional taste, melodic sophistication and graceful approach.

There are really no bad tracks on the album, which is a collection of jazz standards similar to the group’s 2003 release Autumn Leaves. There is a well done version of Thad Jones' (yes, the trumpeter/composer/arranger/bandleader, who died in 1986, was the third of the Jones brothers) ballad "A Child Is Born" that allows Hank to demonstrate his orchestral abilities at the keyboard. There’s a “Satin Doll” on which Hank reharmonizes the inner notes of his chord voicings to create a bit of dissonance in the familiar melody, and there’s the waltzy title track on which the Jones brothers seem to dance on air. The set ends with a solo piano version of “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” that makes reference to the Harlem stride style and ends the CD on a high note. But while Hank is in the lead on most of this disc, it’s the fantastic playing of Elvin that will stick in many listeners’ minds as they hear his mind-boggling perfection whether playing a supporting role, driving the trio forward, or whipping off seemingly effortless drum solos that are masterpieces of rhythm and form. Elvin Jones will be hugely missed by all jazz fans, and Someday My Prince Will Come is a fitting remembrance of him as well as a testament to the talents of Richard Davis and Hank Jones. Truly one of the best straight ahead jazz albums released so far this year.