The Zoo Too Trio is a new recording project from some very big names in the world of modern jazz. Before listening to their new disc, Poetry Legroom, I was most familiar with the work of pianist and keyboard player Michael Cain. Michael Cain is an accomplished pianist who has been popping up in liner-notes of records I love since the early 90s. I was also familiar with the work of drummer Pheeroan akLaff for many of the same reasons; he’s a liner-notes all star going back decades. I wasn’t aware of the work of guitarist Keith Price, but, after spending some time with Poetry Legroom, I plan to keep track of him.
The Zoo Too Trio’s point of departure comes from the jazz world but they travel far from traditional jazz instrumentation and sonics throughout the album. The song “Poetry Legroom Okinawa Children” opens with a hypnotizing piano ostinato that sounds almost like a fingering exercise. From that seed, the Zoo Too Trio ushers in a universe of sound. Initially, the group coaxes in the sounds of electronic chimes, clean guitar and cymbal heavy drum set support. After a time, the focus switches exclusives to Aklaff who takes a drum solo that is so compositionally central to the whole piece I struggle to call it a solo.
Throughout “Poetry Legroom Okinawa Children,” utterly unexpected sounds and rhythms are introduced in but they promptly become foundational to the overall piece. It is a highwater mark of collaboration where the emphasis is on complementing, not copying. Hopefully there will be an opportunity to hear the group perform live, as it would be interesting to see how these songs would come across in a live event. But even if no performances come to pass, I am grateful for this document of three unique talents coming together to create something more than the sum of their parts.
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