Superb record of trio piano jazz from ism with their Metaphor (UMLAUT RECORDS UMCD0030) album. The trio of Pat Thomas, Joel Grip and Antonin Gerbal have made one other record for this label, Nature in its inscrutability strikes back in 2015. Playing this now makes me realise I haven’t heard enough Pat Thomas, which is a major oversight on my part as he’s an important and prolific UK player in free improvisation and jazz. All I own apparently is his appearances on the Company 91 concerts (which were released as three separate CDs) and the Sweethearts in a Drugstore record from 1996 (where he also played electronics).
‘Cockscomb’ on the present record is an excellent 34-min foray which makes me think of a slowed-down, clipped version of Cecil Taylor…Pat Thomas just exudes taciturn darkness, even when playing quite rich chords, is not afraid to use simple patterns and repetitions to make his statement clear, and the mixed sonorities are bold without being excessive. Anger and aggression are turned into positive forces…he may sometimes have the speed and swirl of a Keith Tippett, but Toppett never had so much pushy blockiness behind his mercury-fast riffs. Not to deny bass playing of Joel Grip and drumming of Gerbal is also perfect for this trio’s sound and dynamic direction, but I’m swept away by my new favourite thing in the world.
More astringency and acid emotive juices etch the brain and heart on ‘Marguerite’, another long one at 31:14 which starts out with delicious, spontaneous atonalities that instantly spread indian ink into each cerebellum. Of the two sets, this one is slightly edged out in the “très avant” stakes by the previous cut, but there’s plenty of high-octane mileage to refuel your tankers in these golden lengths…another thing I like about the whole trio is the way they convey all this life-giving spirit without feeling the need to go down the excessive “energy jazz” route. Instead, the hallmarks are a lightness of touch, deft musical skills, strong sense of dynamics, and a willingness to embrace melody and repetition when needed.
This is strong solid jazz craft, and a hugely enjoyable record…recommended. From 10 June 2019.