Album Information:
Richard Fairhurst released his first album – The Hungry Ants
– at the age of 19 on the Babel label, and has proceeded over the years to
release further innovative works, many of which can be found in the 606 online
store. This is Fairhurst’s first album with his Triptych group, and his first
piano-trio album. Jasper Hoiby joins him on bass – best known for his Phronesis
trio – as does American drummer Chris Vatalaro.
Amusia was critically acclaimed when initially released,
earning a 4 star rating from The Guardian and Jazzwise respectively. Typical of
the British piano-trio releases of late, Amusia emphasises repetitive rhythmic
complexity and melodic exploration, allowing Fairhurst to dig deep during his
solos, and conjure some fine meditative moments.
The opening title-track is a fine example of Fairhurst’s
ostinato-based work – a percussive etude driven by the bass work of Hoiby – as
is the second tune, Dense Fur. However this latter track opens with some
shimmering pianistic glaciers from Fairhurst, contrasting with the looped
rhythmic theme and allowing Fairhurst to demonstrate his harmonic ingenuity. Not all of the tunes on Amusia are brooding, pensive
affairs though. Figments is a high octane tune containing a theme for
Fairhurst’s finger acrobatics and a free-for-all solo section allowing Hoiby to
muster the spirit of a 1970’s Charlie Haden. Again, Fish Magic develops into an
up-tempo number, this time indebted to the harmonic style of Chick Corea. A
Fairhurst original, Fish Magic was originally recorded for his second Hungry
Ants album, Formic. In fact there are a number of old Fairhurst tunes
re-arranged for the modern piano trio on Amusia (Fish Magic; Formic, Daringly
Poised; Formic, Empty Corridors; Standing Tall, Dense Fur; Standing Tall) all of
which support the notion that Fairhurst’s originality and approach to
composition is under-appreciated, especially when one considers how well these
tunes (some of which are 13 years old) stand up to their contemporary/edgy
counterparts.
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