ZZCD 9801 – Dozen a Day
David Gordon Trio
To the CD in our Shop
Bath & West Life (Formerly Bath & West Country Life) – SUMMER 1998
This younger generation pianist is sometimes claimed as a .’son of the west’, having gained part of his education in Bristol, becoming a ‘face’ on the local jazz scene before moving on. His advanced technique is a benefit of classical training and his modern jazz style retains Bach and Baroque influences together with some possible distant shapings from Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett.
Berklee School student Cavaciuti is one of the best of the current drum crop in Britain and the Danish bass player Rasmussen adds the flourishes taught initially by his better-known countryman Orsted-Pedersen. This trio swings cohesively on the up-tempo slots although the mildly European dressing may prove to be a little too polite, on ballads, for certain listeners. Some very good tunes here!
I particularly enjoyed the bass solo on Petrucciani’s Looking Up.
Jazzwise 35 – µ µ µ µ
David Gordon has already made a favourable impact with the Theo Travis Quartet, but the pianist has the opportunity to stretch out even further in this excellent debut trio recording with Ole Rasmussen on bass and drummer Paul Cavaciuti.
All three are strong and inventive musicians, and seem to make a genuine delight in each other’s playing, a feeling which underlies the entire album but emerges very clearly in their effervescent scuttle through Miles Davis’ “Solar”.
Gordon contributes five very different compositions and Rasmussen one while their cover material includes the underrated Danny Zeitlin’s vibrant “Carol’s Garden” and Michael Petrucciani’s “Looking Up” alongside Jobim’s much-covered “How Insensitive”.
KM
Jazz Rag July/August 1998
Pianist David Gordon works in both jazz and classical contexts, with the Theo Travis Band and in the baroque world. His own trio, which dates back to 1995, includes Danish bassist Ole Rasmussen, a former pupil of Niels H.O. Pedersen, and drummer Paul Cavaciuti, who studied at Berklee School Of Music.
These diverse backgrounds combine to produce a generally stimulating synthesis, more European in style than Afro-American. The 11 track set (this-and-more-recorded in one day – hence the CD title) includes originals and compositions by Miles Davis, Burt Bacharach, Michel Petrucciani, Danny Zeitlin and Antonio Jobin. The results are mixed. Gordon’s own Mister Sam and Zimmerfolk are particularly strong melodies and, along with Zeitlin’s Carol’s Garden Miles’ Solar and Petrucciani”s Looking Up, are approached in a way that evolves into an exciting level of group dynamics and produces a very considerable degree of momentum.
Chris Yates
Chattanooga Free Press – Sunday July 12th 1998
The David Gordon Trio’s debut CD is impressive. The leader is an aggressive jazz pianist with light touch. His composing skills show equal promise, especially the whimsical miniature “Czech Bounce” and the lyrical easygoing “Mister Sam.” Bassist Ole Rasmussen, a fine player who studied with the legendary Niels Pedersen, provides a strong rhythmic foundation and is a choice soloist and composer, too, contributing the melancholy ballad “Understand It”
Drummer Paul Cavaciuti displays formidable chops during the long introduction to Denny Zeitlin’s “Carole’s Garden,” a long neglected work revived with fervour. This English import is worth the extra effort to acquire.
Ken Dryden