Dubbed the Fluid Trio +, Crocco recruits bassist Peter Slavov, drummer Francisco Mela and veterans saxophonist/educator George Garzone. The disc's ten tracks, all composed by Crocco, have solidly structured, open-ended forms for solo exploration. The absence of keyboard—not to mention the mainly single-line approach of Crocco's playing—leaves a spacious landscape for Crocco and Garzone to twist and bend each harmonic sequence.
Crocco's staggering technique is put on full display on the blistering "What it is," a blues of sorts that features a seemingly endless barrage of lightning-fast picking. The guitarist's single-note style, with a stripped-down accompaniment of bass and drums can be likened to the late Grant Green. If not in actual note choice, at least in a strong propensity to swing, especially on medium tempo tunes such as "Heaven," "Trial of Time" and "Spice Mine."
A disc filled with solos that move from chromatic whirlwinds, to contemplative lyricism, Fluid Trio + showcases uncompromising artistry without sacrificing audience accessibility.
