By Bill Milkowski | Published June 2022
After more than 30 years and a dozen albums together, playing with this much trust and cohesion is strictly second nature to organist Larry Goldings, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart. Their communication skills are so finely honed by now that they are perpetually in sync, whether tackling an intricate head (Wayne Shorter’s “United”), swinging lightly and politely in old-school fashion on a standard (“Come Rain Or Come Shine”) or exploring spacier terrain (Stewart’s In A Silent Way-inspired “FU Donald,” his caustic salute to the former president).
Goldings’ “Let’s Get Lots” (with allusions to Frank Loesser-Jimmy McHugh’s oft-covered “Let’s Get Lost”) has the organist setting a lush mood while also injecting a touch of playful humor. Stewart’s swinging pulse ignites Bernstein’s “Little Green Men,” which appeared on the trio’s 1992 outing Light Blue (as The Larry Goldings Trio), while his extended drum solo here is both furious and uncommonly melodic. A polyrhythmic marvel on the kit, Stewart never fails to surprise.
Bernstein, who possesses one of the purest tones in jazz guitar today, carries the melody on Duke Ellington’s beautiful ballad “Reflections In D” and the solo guitar intro to John Lewis’ gorgeous “Django” with refined delicacy and masterly finesse. Yet, he is very capable of burning a blue streak (Gary Bartz’s “Libra”) or dealing in bluesy inflections (George Gershwin’s “Prelude 2”). Individually, these three musicians are at the top of their respective fields. Together, they have become standard-bearers for the B-3 tradition.
Perpetual Pendulum: United; Let’s Get Lots; Libra; Prelude; FU Donald; Come Rain Or Come Shine; Little Green Men; Reflections In D; Perpetual Pendulum; Lurkers; Django. (64:50)
Personnel: Larry Goldings, organ; Peter Bernstein, guitar; Bill Stewart, drums.
Ordering Info: smokesessionsrecords.com
