The piano-bass-drums trio is a revered jazz configuration. It owns a long and storied history; what’s more, it can simultaneously sonically shift between the expansive and intimate, between the dense and sparse; and between being improvisationally exhilarating one moment and nuanced and subtle the next. In order to achieve such dynamic, intelligently delivered fluidity, it must be held in the hands of three trusty, time-tested souls, with each party capable of both leading and deferring almost at the drop of the proverbial hat.

   BILL CHARLAP leads one of the present-day heavyweight piano trios, having astutely absorbed the work of other keyboard-bass-drum combos such as those with Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Kenny Barron, among others, at the helm. At this juncture, so broad in scope and refined is Charlap’s piano playing in this musical context that, during any given performance, he flirts with perfection on multiple occasions.

   However, Charlap will tell you, he does so in no small part due to the combined sum of the two other parts. BASSIST NORIKO UEDO, who arrived from Japan and lives in New York is a first-call musician who represents one-sixth of Artemis, the all-women “Superband.” LEWIS NASH, DRUMMER par excellence, always impresses in the trio setting; perhaps spending a decade with the Tommy Flanagan Trio has something to do with it. So, if you’re looking to experience the penultimate piano trio, Charlap’s “variation on this theme” is a great place to do so.

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022

Murry's

Show 1 | Doors: 2:30 | Start: 3:30

Show 2 | Doors: 6 | Start: 7