Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Florian Ross Trio: Pigs & Fairies

5

Florian Ross Trio: Pigs & Fairies

By

Sign in to view read count
Florian Ross Trio: Pigs & Fairies
As a composer, German-born pianist Florian Ross seldom strays from the musical basics: melody, harmony, rhythm. As a performer, however, he uses those same basics to fashion a broad palette of sound, coming at the listener from a variety of routes and angles cannily designed to deepen an over-all mood of singularity and anticipation.

On Pigs & Fairies, his fourteenth recording since 1998 and third as leader of his trio, Ross uses every weapon at his disposal, from a conventional piano (not heard until Track 3) to electric piano, FM synthesizer and EFX (whatever that may be) to keep his listeners engaged and assure their undivided attention. While his random digressions into electronics may not suit everyone's taste, there is no doubt that they serve as a provocative counterpoint to such more straight-ahead fare as, say, "Spinning Kenny," "No Pun Intended" or "Miasma," the last of which is one of two selections featuring guest tenor saxophonist Paul Heller (the other is the aptly named "Calm").

Ross plays acoustic piano on "Calm," "Spinning Kenny," "No Pun Intended" and "Miasma," various electronic devices the rest of the way. Is he overdoing it? That's up to the listener to decide. Needless to say, he is proficient on every one of them, and the synthesizer, electric piano and EFX are credible in his hands. As for bassist Dietmar Fuhr and drummer Fabian Arends, they are exemplary in a supporting role, keeping the pulse steady and the rhythm moving forward no matter where Ross chooses to lead them.

As Ross wrote all of the album's eleven selections, its success rests in some measure on his artistry in that realm, which is for the most part above par. Pigs & Fairies should gladden those who lean toward fresh and unconventional precepts, especially when it comes to jazz piano trios.

Track Listing

Spamtrails; Slow Thinker; Spinning Kenny; Triumph of Spectacle; Trip-wire; Calm; No Pun Intended; Until Then; Miasma; Friction; Think Slower.

Personnel

Florian Ross
composer / conductor

Florian Ross: electric, acoustic piano, FM synthesizer, EFX; Dietmar Fuhr: electric, acoustic bass; Fabian Arends: drums. Special guest – Paul Heller, tenor saxophone (6, 9).

Album information

Title: Pigs & Fairies | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Toy Piano Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.