07/03/2008 The Journal Music of Ireland

Common Ground 
(LRP002)



Among the notable features of the Irish jazz scene in recent years has been the emergence of several outstanding keyboard trios, including the Phil Ware Trio and Organics, both of which are rhythmically anchored by drummer Kevin Brady. Last year, Brady’s own trio rose to prominence with two national tours bracketed around the release of Common Ground, a recording remarkable for its coherence, subtlety, and high standard of musicianship.
These virtues are the product of many factors, including Brady’s smooth combination of power and melodicism, guitarist John Moriarty’s lucid lines and delicate accents, and the assured interplay between Brady and bassist Dave Redmond. But it is the presence of veteran pianist Bill Carrothers that provides musical focus for these strengths and gives the CD its unique voice and clear sense of identity.
Carrothers’ fluency and harmonic invention inform all nine tunes, an inspired and varied set ranging from Charlie Parker and Tiny Grimes’ early bebop classic ‘Red Cross’ to Brady’s clever ballad ‘Goodbye Mr Munch’.
Brady has said that performing and recording with Carrothers has broadened his horizons musically, and certainly the pianist’s spare, intimate style and deep fund of ideas have helped give this recording an impressive inventive breadth. The spirit of Miles Davis hovers over much of the material, especially the cool, exploratory mid-sixties Miles, whose quintet balanced abstraction and blues feeling so effectively. Wayne Shorter did most of the writing for that band, and a Shorter piece from the period, ‘Waterbabies’, is one of the standout tunes on Common Ground, stark and cinematic and highly atmospheric.
Such is the force of Carrothers’ innovative urges that even the standards on this recording, ‘By Myself’ and Jerome Kern’s ‘Yesterdays’, are brooding, inquisitive treatments, full of collective musical scrutiny and steady surprise. ‘Bemsha Swing’ truly does swing, with Brady’s highly creative, melodic drumming driving the tune with humour and panache. Redmond’s ‘Origin’ opens with a forceful statement on bass that resolves into a collective free passage of great taste and delicacy. Moriarty supplies force and colour throughout and delivers sterling solos on ‘Goodbye Mr Munch’ and the Randy Weston waltz ‘Little Niles’.
Carrothers has played a lot with the American drummer Bill Stewart and, like Stewart, Brady has an expansive palette, terrific technique, and an unerring sense of musical structure. With these commanding individual gifts and his close feel for whatever ensemble he is supporting, it is apparent why Brady has become a key part of so many successful small groups. And as the CD is produced by the Livingroom Project Music Collective (www.livingroomproject.com), founded by Brady, we can also add producer to the range of talents he brings to a project. Let’s hope we see many more like Common Ground. by Kevin Stevens

01/03/2008 JAZZWISE Magazine by Brian Priestley

Jazzwise Magazine | March 2008


Drummer Brady is one of the young guns of the irish jazz scene, having studied in the States and with the London Guildhall, while he and the similarly educated bassist Redmond also form the two-thirds of the Phil Ware trio. Here, the sound is heavily influenced by the harmonically inventive and rhythmically alert US pianist Carrothers who visits Ireland far more often than the UK, which is a shame.

A couple of jazz-associated evergreens and a standard each from Parker, Monk, Randy Weston and Wayne Shorter all get inventive and sometimes surprising treatments, while a song in neither category - 'Daisy', showing Carrothers's interest in World War One period material - briefly features electronics and distorted voice (doubtless the pianist himself).

The two originals are ballads each from Redmond and Brady, the latter a highlight of the entire album but both are greatly enhanced by Carrothers and blend in well with the surrounding programme. The somewhat Scofield-esque Moriarty is on two thirds of the tracks. Though the leader doesn't draw attention to himself, his work is varied and constantly stimulating.

Review by Brian Priestley.

02/12/0007 Sunday Independent

Bill CARROTHERS, an American pianist based in Michigan, has made a number of visits to this country, and it was good to hear him again last Wednesday night in the Mermaid, Bray, with Dave Redmond (double bass) and Kevin Brady (drums). The group, touring Ireland as the Kevin Brady Trio, has reached the stage of integration and togetherness that comes with regular collaboration.

Beginning with Church of the Open Air, a Carrothers original with hymn-like harmonies, the group played a richly varied programme that took in 12-bar blues, percussive be-bop, romantic songs such as Cole Porter's So In Love, and the jocular Waltz Macabre.

The pianist's lyrical approach brought out the best in slow, moody numbers, and his own compositions showed a quirky individuality that clearly appealed to the two Irish musicians. Redmond's bass work was nimble and tasty, while Brady proved himself a master of light and shade on the drums.

Bill Carrothers is featured on Common Ground (LRP), a new CD by the Kevin Brady Trio plus John Moriarty (guitar). Highlights include Charlie Parker's Red Cross, Wayne Shorter's Water Babies, Brady's Goodbye, Mr Munch and Dave Redman's Origin. Put it on your list of Christmas presents to yourself.

30/11/0007 The Irish Times - Ray Comiskey

KEVIN BRADY & BILL CARROTHERS Common Ground Living Room

Carrothers is such a major talent, it's not surprising the pianist had such a galvanising impact on drummer Kevin Brady's trio (with Dave Redmond on bass and John Moriarty on guitar) when they toured earlier this year. It's evident in the resultant studio recording; in the wryly imaginative recasting of By Myself; in the inventive quartet treatments of Bemsha Swing and Little Niles, especially the way the waltz's bridge section is used; in the gorgeous piano intro to the ballad, Goodbye Mr Munch, with possibly the best guitar solo of the album; and in the stunning piano solo on Red Cross's venerable rhythm changes. Above all there are two rather special trio performances: Wayne Shorter's other-worldly Waterbabies and a sublime Yesterdays. Carrothers doesn't do coasting and, to their credit, neither do this trio. www.livingroomproject.com RAY COMISKEY