By Jeff Potter | Published June 2017
The high-voltage acoustic progressive jazz trio Phronesis enjoys a fervent following in Europe, and especially in the U.K. Recently, the London-based unit has been expanding its global touring, and this disc—its seventh and most ambitious to date—might help forge further inroads in the United States.
In this grand undertaking, Phronesis collaborates with arranger Julian Argüelles and the majestic Frankfurt Radio Big Band to perform reworkings of tunes from the Phronesis catalog. Recorded in Frankfurt last year, the project was commissioned to celebrate the trio’s 10th anniversary. Phronesis features Danish bassist Jasper Høiby, British pianist Ivo Neame and Swedish drummer Anton Eger. Though their instrumentation would suggest a typical piano trio, the music doesn’t follow suit. The piano frequently plays a focal role, but it is just as open a responder to the music’s groove-driven core.
There’s superb collective musicianship throughout. But ultimately, the star of the session is arranger (and conductor) Argüelles, whose task was a daunting one. Phronesis’ music is dense, with darting 16th notes that make ensemble clutter a challenge. But the arrangements allow the ensemble to be themselves, while the big band artfully complements their rhythmic momentum and contributes glorious harmonic colors.
The Behemoth: OK Chorale; Untitled #1; Stillness; Herne Hill; Charm Defensive; Zieding; Phraternal; Intro To Urban Control; Urban Control; Happy Notes. (64:48)
Personnel: Jasper Høiby, bass; Ivo Neame, piano; Anton Eger, drums; Julian Argüelles, arranger, conductor, tenor saxophone (9); Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Heinz-Dieter Sauerborn, soprano and alto saxophones, flute, piccolo; Oliver Leicht, alto saxophone, clarinet; Tony Lakatos, tenor saxophone, alto flute; Steffen Weber, tenor saxophone; Rainer Heute, bass saxophone, bass clarinet; Frank Wellert, trumpet, flugelhorn; Thomas Vogel, trumpet, flugel- horn; Martin Auer, trumpet, flugelhorn; Axel Schlosser, trumpet, flugelhorn; Günter Bollmann, trombone; Peter Feil, trombone, Christian Jaksjø, trombone, bass trumpet; Manfred Honetschläger, bass trombone; Martin Scales, guitar.
