Iverson, Street, and Heath in Philadelphia
A pianist's trio session that sounds like a band finding its footing together.
I don't have verified details about where and when this session took place, so I can't responsibly describe the room, the circumstances, or the decisions behind it without risking invented facts. What I can say with confidence is the lineup: Ethan Iverson on piano, Ben Street on bass, and Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums, a trio rooted in the mainstream piano-trio tradition that Iverson had long been steeped in through his work with The Bad Plus.
Iverson came to this record as a pianist, composer, and writer who had spent years thinking carefully about the jazz canon, and that thinking tends to show up in a trio setting as a respect for form and melody rather than pure abstraction. Street and Heath bring the kind of rhythmic grounding that lets a pianist stretch without losing the thread.
For listeners approaching Iverson's discography, this is a useful counterpoint to the more angular, groove-driven sound of The Bad Plus. Check the album's own listing for the exact release details and track sequence, since I'd rather point you there than guess at them.
Who's playing
