Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

The Byron Allen Trio - Self Titled [ESP Disc - 2013]

Here’s an unknown name to me, on a very well-known label. The ESP Disk label is famous for its more “out there” recordings, with a roster that includes Patty Waters, The Godz, The Fugs and, of course, Albert (and Donald) Ayler. Whilst it has folkier albums scattered throughout its catalogue, its the free jazz explosion of the sixties which remains it’s foundation stone: indeed, the label’s first recording session was the almighty “Spiritual Unity” by the Albert Ayler Trio.

Like my cd copy of “Spiritual Unity”, ESP Disk have neatly recreated the original vinyl packaging of this release; with The Byron Allen Trio’s eponymous debut shrunk down to a card cd wallet. The trio - Allen on alto sax, Ted Robinson on drums and Maceo Gilchrist on bass - recorded this album in September 1964; it has four long tracks of improvisation, equal parts restless and contemplative.

I’m nearly always drawn to the rhythm section of whatever group I’m listening to, be it King Crimson or the classic Coltrane Quartet, and the bass and drums here don’t disappoint at all. Robinson’s drumming is incredibly powerful, and increasingly dominant as the album progresses. He starts the first piece, “Time Is Past”, with a series of syncopated stops/starts, the bass joining him in this precision exercise; but following Gilchrist’s later solo section, Robinson plays a furious solo passage of his own, with a oppressive power pre-empting the likes of grindcore. This matching of sheer rhythmic force with more delicate textural playing, is echoed by the bass. Gilchrist begins the album by delicately bowing his strings in a wavering tone; before starting one of the long note runs that occur throughout the album. The second track, “Three Steps In The Right Direction”, has a long section dominated by one of these runs, with Gilchrist scurrying up and down the bass as if on a never-ending pursuit. With such a powerful rhythm engine, Allen’s sax appears - at times - rather slight and flimsy; but this disguises its true power. It dances across the bass and drums, exploring the nooks and crannies; flitting in and out and creating colourful spaces. What it might lack in shrieking power - Allen’s playing is overtly “traditional” in the sense of relying on notes, rather than extended technique - it makes up for with articulacy and precision strikes and punctuations. This swirling and twirling decoration, sometimes ecstatic, sometimes mournful, is, however, tempered at points by more brute playing; with Allen joining his cohorts in peaks of muscular power.

This is a really good album, the kind of thing that rewards careful listening. I can’t help but visualise the Trio as a large drilling juggernaut, with the drums and bass taking turns to provide the immense power needed for the machinery - whilst the other deals with the removed tons of earth - and the sax as the razor sharp teeth of the business end. Its a very strong recording, even if the ending feels a little clumsy. As a footnote, careful listening not only reveals great interplay between the trio, but also a few “clicks” on the recording itself - somewhat amusing, given the famous story of how “Spiritual Unity” was mistakenly recorded in mono.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Martin P
Latest Reviews

The Byron Allen Trio - Self Titled
Here’s an unknown name to me, on a very well-known label. The ESP Disk label is famous for its more “out there” recordings, with a roster that includes Patty...
280324   Typhoon Club - Typhoon Club(B...
270324   Jerzy Skolimowski Collection ...
260324   Latex Choker - Sealed
260324   Occlusion - 59: No Input Wall
260324   Nihil Impvlse - Anabasis
260324   Marta Forsberg - Sjunger För...
260324   The New Boy - The New Boy( Th...
250324   The Stargazer’s Assistant - ...
250324   Liza Lim - Annunciation Trip...
220324   Patrick - Patrick( UHD/ Blu Ray)
Latest Articles

The Music of Clay Ruby & Burial H...
Over the last couple of decades Wisconsin native, Clay Ruby has been creating some of the world’s finest dark electronic music under the Burial Hex mon...
280324   The Music of Clay Ruby & Buri...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom