John Taylor, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron

Recorded live in Birmingham during a Contemporary Music Network tour in 2002,  Tramonto finds UK pianist John Taylor (1942-2015)  in celebratory, outgoing mood, fronting one of his most dynamic and quick-witted groups, with US musicians Marc Johnson and Joey Baron – the energetic team that would later collaborate on the critically-lauded ECM recording Rosslyn.  Here the repertoire features the well-known Taylor tunes “Pure and Simple”,  “Between Moons” and “Ambleside” (heard in an epic 15 minute version), as well as the Ralph Towner-composed title track and Steve Swallow’s “Up Too Late”, which swirls from bop phrasing to free playing, and includes high arco soloing from Johnson, and skittering drums from Baron. In all, a welcome reminder of what a creative force John Taylor could be, as leader of an outstanding piano trio.