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Ben Boddie on Jazz (AllAboutJazz podcast/Mixcloud)
Hawaii Public Radio
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The Colorado-based Eric Lilley Trio is back with ten new original compositions on Swing Set,
their fourth release following Joie de Vivre (2020), Follow Up (2020), Three (2023), continuing
with their signature sound of accessible, melodic swing.
The opener, “Monkey Chase” is a fast blues that alternates choruses between the keys of D flat
and G in a madcap race to the finish.
“To Know Not” implies a sense of uncertainty, never quite sure of itself, confident at times than
clouded by doubt.
“Whiskey Sour” is a hard swinging bopper that not only describes the drink but perhaps the
mood.
“So There” gives the trio a chance to display its ’ Latin chops with a swinging bridge. Fine conga
solo by guest Jose Espino.
" Tess” – the one solo piece - is a morsel, a miniature ballad with wide, open harmonies that
lead to an expansive bridge and hopeful ending.
“The Lady Beckons” has the trio swinging to what could be a 1940s noir soundtrack.
“Scrapple from the Pineapple” was written in Hawaii, hence the name. Primarily a samba but it
bounces through styles like bouncing around the islands.
“Satisfaction Guaranteed” shares the same title as one of Horace Silver’s classics, but is a late
night, last dance of the night ballad.
“Bitter Tea” puts the trio in minor key noir territory again. Gangsters, gumshoes, gin and jazz.
The trio closes Swing Set like it started with the joyous romp, “Maisie’s Daisies”.
Eric Lilley Trio Three
The Eric Lilley Trios’ third CD release is the aptly titled Three. Eric has once again written nine original compositions and is joined by bassist Mark Diamond and drummer Tony Black. The trio also invited percussionist Jose Espino to join them on the Latin high energy Goats and mysterious Visiting Hours. Initially conceived as a Bill Evans tribute, the stylistic scope of Three expanded with the passing of Chick Corea in 2021.
The set begins with a bang, the aforementioned Goats composed and named for Eric’s Capricorn twins Neil and Erica. The song bounces back and forth between swing and Latin with an extended outro vamp that lets Tony and Jose shine.
Jereices’ Step is a stylistic nod to the great bassist Scott Le Faros’ Glorias’ Step. The melody is stated twice and then the trio trades sections of half time and a tempo.
Kendras’ Waltz is especially reminiscent of a Chick type of tune with lilting front section followed by a harmonically adventurous pedal point middle.
Bill Evans is self explanatory. Shades of Nardis and Fun Ride.
May Day is a solo piano piece that allows Eric the room to try in a small way to capture some of the magic of the Bill Evans solo sound.
About Face is a straight ahead swinger with an extended section featuring Tony and Mark trading eights, then fours, then twos. Bill Evans enjoyed making anagrams of his song titles. This title is an anagram of saxophonist Art Boutons’ name. There is a little touch of Stevie Wonder on the ending.
Few and Far Between shifts back to a Chick feeling style. Eric gets to stretch on a lilting, bell like middle section before the group cascades down to the final chord.
Any Day Now features Eric again solo. Written at the end of a long Colorado winter, eagerly anticipating the first green of the return of Spring.
Visiting Hours describes the late night period when inspiration often comes. The creative spirits come for a visit and leave behind this moody, ethereal piece.
Visit Soundcloud for preview:
https://soundcloud.com/user-811923770/sets/eric-lilley-trio-follow-up
Here is a review from George W. Harris at Jazz Weekly for "Three".
It’s not hard to guess who inspires pianist/composer Eric Lilley, as he’s teamed with Mark Diamond/b Tony Black/dr (and guest Jose Espino/perc) on this collection of original. I mean, after all, “Bill Evans” is filled with rich and lyrical harmonics that sparkle, and even uptempo pieces such s “Jereice’s Step” never runs out of melodic ideas. There are also a pair of solo outings that make you wish for more, with the “ Tune Up” inspired “May Day” a rich journey and “Any Day Now” a dramatic aria. Jade visions..
In Three, the Eric Lilley Trio crafts a sonic story that pays tribute to jazz legends while firmly establishing their own distinctive mark in the annals of the jazz canon. Each track unfolds like a chapter in a storybook, drawing listeners into the intimate world of Lilley’s musical genius and the Trio’s unparalleled synergy. To both the seasoned jazz aficionado and the connoisseur of piano jazz trios, this album offers a journey that bridges the legacies of the past with the present innovations.
Bathed in the soft luminescence of Lilley’s previous albums, Joie de Vivre and Follow Up (read our review HERE), Three by the Eric Lilley Trio is nothing short of a heartfelt homage. Three paints an intricate tableau that melds the legacy of the past with the vibrancy of the present. It’s a poetic nod to the heritage left by jazz maestros Bill Evans and Chick Corea, colored with the distinct shades of Lilley’s individuality and his Trio’s cohesive synergy. Stamish Marcus/Jazz Sensibilities
The compositions are heartfelt narratives, promoting an intimate conversation between Lilley and his fellow musicians, articulated through the universal language of music. He pours his reverence for iconic pianists, his affection for family and friends, and his own lived experiences into every chord and melody. The result is a sincere and evocative tapestry of sounds, where each piece becomes a highly expressive vehicle for exploration for Lilley and his fellow musicians and the listener.
In conclusion, Eric Lilley’s Three is a vibrant demonstration of artistic evolution, a narrative told in the dialect of jazz, resounding with the echoes of his past, the resonance of his present, and the anticipation of his future. It is a deep dive into the heart of a gifted pianist and composer, a journey through a soundscape that remains eternally fresh yet familiar. As the notes fade and the story concludes, we are left not just with the satisfaction of a jazz album well enjoyed but with the anticipation of the continued evolution of an artist deeply entwined with the music he loves. Steven Miller/Sound In Review
