Tarbaby at Seattle Jazz Fellowship

The term “power trio” conjures images of electric guitar infused, blues based rock between three essential elements of the form. In the case of Tarbaby, you could easily apply the term, though the application is attached to a jazz piano trio. Certainly the term would have to be presented in a collective sense, as all three participants revolving around a common post-bop center, exploring the piano trio with a complete and open approach that faces the tradition from all sides, both emotionally and intellectually. The trio’s fearless deep dive into the collective spirit can take the members from bright, humorous environes to darkly introspective melodies and guided only by fearless spontaneity. ...

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The term “power trio” conjures images of electric guitar infused, blues based rock between three essential elements of the form. In the case of Tarbaby, you could easily apply the term, though the application is attached to a jazz piano trio. Certainly the term would have to be presented in a collective sense, as all three participants revolving around a common post-bop center, exploring the piano trio with a complete and open approach that faces the tradition from all sides, both emotionally and intellectually. The trio’s fearless deep dive into the collective spirit can take the members from bright, humorous environes to darkly introspective melodies and guided only by fearless spontaneity. 

The band has often performed and recorded with added personnel to the core threesome, making this date on their tour a unique and special occasion performing strictly as a trio. While the trio is making the rounds of festivals and clubs around the country, their stop at Seattle Jazz Festival finds them in a room that holds seventy patrons at most–an intimate space housing the most intimate of forms in the jazz tradition. 

Pianist Orrin Evans is one of the most important, trailblazing artists in the music today, and a friend of Seattle and the Fellowship. Bassist Eric Revis is known widely for his work with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, but on his own, the Los Angeles based artist is a fearless composer and notable bandleader. Drummer Nasheet Waits has been around the music his entire life, being the son of esteemed drummer Freddie Waits. His recording and touring resume is extensive, including turns with Jason Moran, Christian McBride’s New Jawn, The Fred Hersch Trio and most recently with Dave Holland’s New Quartet. This is to mention but a few.

The three musicians have a history that predates the trio, and share common core values concerning the music. Those who have become acquainted with Evans’ playing during his many stops in Seattle as a bandleader, as a member of Bad Plus and with trumpeter Thomas Marriott, have surely noticed that the music is a sacred thing to him personally. There are certain truths about the music that need to be expressed no matter what path is traveled within the tradition. Tarbaby is a medium that invites telling the story from beginning to end, reading and reacting to all that comes to be during the journey getting there. I highly recommend researching the three musicians and listening to their music pre-gig. I could make that assertion for every date listed here, but this evening is truly special and deserves your full attention. https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/events

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