Andrew Cyrille, Mark Dresser, and Marty Ehrlich have formed a consummately cooperative jazz group, and C/D/E is their first recording. On tunes like Cyrille's melancholy "Aubade," Ehrlich's melody statement segues into some magically delicate group improvisation. Here, Cyrille limits himself to tiny cowbell hits, Ehrlich plaintively explores the tune, and Dresser dances around a funky walking line; no musician steps into the spotlight, yet the music is never without focus. This tune and others (all three members write for the project) reveal why these men are some of the most in-demand players in modern creative jazz: They remain sensitive at all times to the dynamic of the group. All the selections are intriguing, but Thomas Chapin's ethereal "Aeolus," on which Ehrlich plays flute, and Ehrlich's Ornette Coleman-esque "C/D/E," featuring successive solos by each player, really showcase the versatility of this all-star trio. One caveat for fans of these players' more aggressive output is that the mood here is largely tender and melodic, with little outright blaring. - Henry M. Shteamer
Saxophonist Marty Ehrlich, bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Andrew Cyrille first joined forces for a New York festival date in 1996. They’d intended to perform with Bobby Bradford, but when it proved impossible to fly the trumpeter in from Los Angeles, they performed as a trio. People who were there talked about the set for days-it was reputedly one of those “you had to be there” shows. The three clearly agreed, since they’ve continued to work together ever since.
Cyrille, Dresser and Ehrlich recorded C/D/E over two years ago for the Austrian label P.A.O.-nearly impossible to find here in the States. Newly issued domestically on Jazz Magnet, the album proves worth the long wait. C/D/E is an altogether exceptional document of an incredibly simpatico trio. Each member is a bandleader in his own right, but here no one hogs the spotlight. Instead, the voices are balanced in perfectly supportive harmony. Ehrlich’s peerless versatility on alto sax, clarinet and flute is well matched by Dresser’s effortless virtuosity and Cyrille’s panoramic range of rhythms. - Bill Shoemaker
Tracks
01. View From The Point Marty Ehrlich)
02. Aeolus (Thomas Chapin)
03. BBJC (Mark Dresser)
04. A Simple Melody (Andrew Cyrille)
05. For Bradford (Mark Dresser)
06. Aubade (Andrew Cyrille)
07. C/D/E (Marty Ehrlich)
08. Point Of View (Marty Ehrlich)
09. AM 2 1/2 (Andrew Cyrille)
10. 2 For Cyrille (Marty Ehrlich)
MARTY EHRLICH flute, alto saxophone, clarinet
ANDREW CYRILLE drums
MARK DRESSER double bass
Recorded March 13, 2001