Variations, Naim Jazz ****

Although The Bad Plus and Vijay Iyer are among the sources to impact on the Australian trio of Sean Foran (piano), Pat Marchisella (bass) and John Parker (drums), the main influence is EST. It's in the textural effects and rhythmic dynamism of Parker's four compositions here, notably Start (on which violin, viola and alto are added), Variations on a Sad Dayand the distorted bass on Chunk. But it's also in the clarity and accessible treatment of Foran's five pieces, several of which, like the lovely ballads At the Right Moment, which morphs into a delicate waltz, and Ascent, with fine, plaintive trumpet from guest Peter Knight, have a savoury melodic grace of their own. That said, this is a trio whose decade together has given them a personal accent and which has, in Foran, a gifted pianist with abundant ideas and the technique to go with them.

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