Aercine by Michael Jefry Stevens Trio

09 Jan

Written by Richard Bourcier
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Mark Jefry Stevens is in the enviable position of having almost thirty recording sessions behind him. Drimala Records feel that Aercine is the pianist's strongest recording since his three famed Mosaic Sextet sessions in the late 1980s. Harvey Sorgen and Mark Feldman were present on those groundbreaking recordings.

Michael Jefry Stevens is influenced on one side by Coltrane, Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor and Thelonious Monk but, on the other, by Mahler, Bartok, Debussy and Ravel. The free jazz environment allows Stevens the luxury of painting his music with a palette containing blues, rock, classical, jazz and funk. The resulting improvisations cannot be pigeonholed.

This reviewer, being a traditionalists, is totally unfamiliar with the world of free-jazz but found much to appreciate and enjoy in spite of my handicap. Roundup and Renata were especially exciting and appealed to my traditional approach to jazz.

Drimala Records are dedicated to all forms of improvisational music and their recordings are available only at their web site. Drop by and have a look. Sound samples are there for your convenience.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Michael Jefry Stevens Trio
CD Title: Aercine
Genre: Free Jazz / Avante Garde
Year Released: 2003
Record Label: Drimala Records
Tracks: Twofold Twice; The Shokee Ship; Aercine; As I Was Saying; Renata; Changeling; Kaaterskill Falls; Oceans Razor; Maracaibo; Roundup.'
Musicians: Michael Jefry Stevens (piano); Steve Rust (bass); Harvey Sorgen (drums); Herb Robertson (trumpet); Mark Feldman (violin).
Label Website: http://www.drimala.com
Rating: Four Stars