Ensam is the third album released by drummer Kevin Brady with his trio featuring US pianist/composer Bill Carrothers and bassist Dave Redmond. The trio has been established since 2007 and continues to make in-roads into the music scene. They have played Europe, Asia and across the UK. Bill Carrothers has played at Birdland, The Knitting factory, and with musicians like Lee Konitz, Charlie Rouse and Prince. Dave Redmond is much in demand as bass player in Ireland and elsewhere. He has played with Guy Barker, Ian Shaw and Jason Rigby to mention just a few. Kevin Brady is an experienced drummer, playing with Ian Shaw, Seamus Blake and Guy Barker. Previous albums were Common Ground and Zeitgeist. The album therefore comes with impressive credentials musician-wise. It does not disappoint.
How The Other Half Lives starts the CD off with a light, gentle easing in of bass and piano with cymbals gently backing before the piano takes the theme, which is easy and rolling, before a crashing yet softly spoken dialogue is set up between bass and drums with the piano trying- and succeeding- to interrupt at various intervals. A seven minute plus track with many parts, it makes interesting listening. Checkpoint Charlie is a light, rolling track, the bass carrying a counterpoint rhythm with cool, snazzy drums over the top. Then the track swings for all it’s worth with bass, drums and piano forming a liaison briefly until the piano part decides to take a walk off on its own – a busy track working its way up to a speed and down again. Reminiscent of café orchestras in the US in the 50s, it is a great sounding track.
Ensam is introduced by double bass and the theme is an easy, lilting one, led by piano but supported throughout by bass and drums, carrying the rhythm and creating cohesion. The atmosphere builds through some nifty piano extensions. Just At Sunset is atmospheric and quiet to begin with, the theme shared between piano and bass, with the bass picking up the ends of the piano-led phrases in clever, musical riffles. The vocals at 1.30 are a surprise and flow, creating a sense of stopping still and gazing out – perhaps at the sunset of the title. A pause before the atmosphere is built again using the three instruments in harmony with the vocals entering again – this time with words of northern lights, past forgotten, being alone and the sunrise making you forget.
Libertine is a track built around the piano and is deep, dark and melancholic until around the three minute mark where it begins to build – from there on in it works like heck and the sound builds with crashing lower octave notes from the piano over which the drums whisper and the bass works it heart out. It is a long, dark, mysterious track and the composition takes you through several moods, lifting towards the end in the reassurance that all is actually well – there is light and the darkness is receding. The bass work on this track is superb.
Yoopers is a terrific track, set off by the bass and drums creating a nifty riff which the piano follows and drives ever onward, adding its own voice. The track is fast paced, racy and an absolute joy. The broken 4/4 blues riffs are wonderful and very cleverly worked. The only drawback is the track is too short at just over two minutes. Gershwin’s But Not For Me is included with Norma Winstone guesting on vocals. This is an interesting version with some annoying shakers in the background which possibly detract from the quality of the voice here but it is listenable and somehow becomes intriguing. Matt Dennis/Tom Adair’s Night We Called It A Day closes the album, again with Norma singing and it works well. Almost a straight interpretation but with some gorgeous changes on piano under the mellow, sultry vocals.
There is a busy-ness to this album and each musician is kept on the go. The tracks are worked well with plenty for each player. There is, it must be said, a lot of atmosphere and chord work which make it just a tad on the heavy listening side at times. However, that said, the musicianship is excellent throughout and there is a connectivity in the improv. sections here which is palpable. If you want atmospheric music, Mr Brady and his trio are surely your men to bring it to you.
