Review by Alex Henderson
In the early '60s, bassist Hal Gaylor founded a noteworthy but short-lived group that he called the Trio. With Gaylor on upright bass, Walter Norris on acoustic piano, and Billy Bean on electric guitar, the Trio favored a drumless format that recalled the Nat King Cole Trio of the 1940s. But anyone who listens to this bop-oriented 1961 session, which was produced by the ubiquitous Orrin Keepnews, will realize that the Trio never went out of its way to emulate Cole's group. While the Nat King Cole Trio is an influence, Norris is far from a Cole imitator -- in 1961, the pianist was well aware of what everyone from Bill Evans to Lennie Tristano to Thelonious Monk had accomplished. Norris was only 29 when this album was recorded, and while The Trio isn't as adventurous as some of the albums that he recorded as a leader in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, it is a pleasing bop date. Gaylor (who switches to cello on his lively "Che-Low") enjoys a strong rapport with Norris and Bean on original material as well as performances of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "The End of a Love Affair" and "For Heaven's Sake." Regrettably, Gaylor and Bean both ended up leaving the music world; in fact, Gaylor gave up jazz to become a certified drug counselor. Norris, thankfully, never left jazz and was still recording when the 21st century arrived. And we can also be thankful that the Trio, although underexposed and short-lived, is documented on this enjoyable album.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-trio-mw0000050028
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Reseña de Alex Henderson
A principios de los 60, el bajista Hal Gaylor fundó un notable pero efímero grupo que llamó el Trío. Con Gaylor en el bajo vertical, Walter Norris en el piano acústico y Billy Bean en la guitarra eléctrica, el Trío favoreció un formato sin batería que recordaba al Nat King Cole Trio de los años 40. Pero cualquiera que escuche esta sesión de 1961 orientada al bop, producida por el omnipresente Orrin Keepnews, se dará cuenta de que el Trío nunca se esforzó por emular al grupo de Cole. Mientras que el Nat King Cole Trio es una influencia, Norris está lejos de ser un imitador de Cole... en 1961, el pianista era muy consciente de lo que todos, desde Bill Evans a Lennie Tristano y Thelonious Monk, habían logrado. Norris sólo tenía 29 años cuando se grabó este álbum, y aunque El Trío no es tan aventurero como algunos de los álbumes que grabó como líder en los años 70, 80 y 90, es una agradable fecha bop. Gaylor (que cambia al violonchelo en su animado "Che-Low") disfruta de una fuerte compenetración con Norris y Bean en el material original, así como de las interpretaciones de "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The End of a Love Affair" y "For Heaven's Sake". Lamentablemente, Gaylor y Bean terminaron dejando el mundo de la música; de hecho, Gaylor dejó el jazz para convertirse en una consejera de drogas certificada. Norris, afortunadamente, nunca dejó el jazz y seguía grabando cuando llegó el siglo XXI. Y también podemos agradecer que el Trío, aunque subexpuesto y de corta duración, está documentado en este agradable álbum.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-trio-mw0000050028
Tracks:
1 - Groove Yard - 5:18
2 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - 4:53
3 - The End Of A Love Affair - 5:07
4 - Scramble - 3:18
5 - Out Front - 4:08
6 - Che-Low - 4:03
7 - For Heaven's Sake - 5:25
8 - D. & D. - 5:00
Credits
Bass – Hal Gaylor
Cello – Hal Gaylor (tracks: 6)
Design – Ken Deardoff
Engineer – Ray Fowler
Guitar – Billy Bean
Photography By – Steve Schapiro
Piano – Walter Norris
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Notes:
Recorded in New York City, June 6 and 30, 1961.
Label: Original Jazz Classics – OJC20 1923-2, Riverside Records – OJC20 1923-2
Released: 1999
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/The-Trio-10-Billy-Bean-Hal-Gaylor-Walter-Norris-The-Trio/release/11214039
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