Artist: John Law

Date of Release: 19/05/2009

Catalogue no: 33JAZZ193

Label: 33 Records

Price: £12

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Track Listing

Featuring Sam Burgess and Asaf Sirkis.
The final volume in the acclaimed Art of Sound four volume CD series.This is, like volume 1, another trio recording and, like the other three, is recorded at the wonderful Artesuono Studio in Italy, renowned for its beautiful, clear, atmospheric sound.

This recording also documents a new departure for the trio, with some more extrovert compositions and some subtle use of effects.

Reviews

05/06/2009 John Fordham

**** FOUR STARS!

The classically trained British pianist John Law had moved from a predominantly free-improv agenda to something like Brad Mehldau's hypnotically grooving lyricism by this trio's debut in 2006, but the finale to his four-part Art of Sound series is very different, and buzzing with surprises. The lyricism remains, but Law has added a more rugged funkiness, with acoustic bassist Sam Burgess sometimes deploying growling distortion effects as Dan Berglund did with EST, and Asaf Sirkis sounding creatively freer and more dramatically inventive than ever on drums.

The romantic, tidally rolling The Ghost in the Oak quickly gives way to an earthier funky drive on the title track, uptempo swingers highlight both Law's cool precision of line and Burgess's unwavering walk, and delicate baroque-jazz features such as Still Life and Three Part Invention display the pianist's free-flowing spontaneity with classical materials. Sirkis is majestic on the fuzz-bass Trap Clap and in a long exchange with the piano riff on Method In My Madness, and the closing Chorale starts as a soft meditation and grows into an understated Latin shuffle. An ideal set both for Law's fans, and anyone wanting an accessible introduction to this formidably equipped artist.

The Guardian