Les Trinitaires finds master composer Andrew Hill alone at the piano in a small French club just 18 months before recording his well-regarded ensemble recording Dusk. This is a stark, moody set, not the place to begin to explore Hill's prickly work with its angular, elusive melodies. His solo presentation is stark and ruminative. For those already engaged with his work, this offers a glimpse of the skeletal foundations of compositions, especially "Dusk" and "15/8," which would later appear on Dusk in full ensemble form. These versions of the compositions are similar to seeing the sketches made for an oil painting. The session also includes two newly minted compositions, "Metz" and "Labyrinth," which were written during his stay at the club. Hill's rendering of the two standards "What's New?" and "I'll Be Seeing You" with their dark, dense altered chords and oddly loping left-hand figures give insights into this important composer's sonic world. - David Dupont
Tracks
01. Joanne (Andrew Hill)
02. What's New? (Johnny Burke/Bob Haggart)
03. Little Spain (Clifford Jordan)
04. 15/8 (Andrew Hill)
05. Metz (Andrew Hill)
06. Dusk (Andrew Hill)
07. Labyrinth (Andrew Hill)
08. Seven (Andrew Hill)
09. Dusk (Andrew Hill)
10. I'll Be Seeing You (Sammy Fain/Irving Kahal)
ANDREW HILL piano
Recorded live at the Trinitaires, Metz, February 10 & 11, 1998
Jazz Friends Productions - JFP 002