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This CD joins a distinguished tradition, but it has unique qualities of its own. It was on tour in Germany, when pianist Simon Nabatov couldn't make a gig of the Perry Robinson Quartet at the Loft in Köln. A magical night of discovery ensued, and gives us a Robinson Trio event to celebrate. Without the piano, a sparser but still well-oiled machine is revealed; Robinson's trio-for-a-night has a quiet confidence resulting from years of personal and musical familiarity. The group was also lucky to be blessed with a very-good recording indeed. This is a live set, but the Loft has such excellent sound and engineering that sometimes it's hard to remember that. The music speaks for itself, but I'll just draw attention to two delightful aspects of the repertoire. The first is Perry's Children's Song, which has never before received the extended examination it receives here; Ernst Bier and an audience member were recruited to play toy instruments and the performance is haunting. The second is Perry's recorded debut of Sidney Bechet's Petite Fleur. It may have you wishing to tango! Go ahead feast your ears on this, the latest in a tradition of trio settings for a musician who has repeatedly mined that format and produced memorable music. Listen and be grateful for serendipitous recordings like this one; be grateful, too, for Perry Robinson, a musical mystic who continues to walk among us, producing music for the ages. (Matthew Snyder)
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