Three is the magic number and this is a magical trio in a number of ways. Not least because it’s driven by Brit-Jazz royalty drummer Spike Wells who’s just about to turn 80. Spike draws on a thread back to his time with Tubby Hayes and Bobby Wellins as well as taking a seat with a plethora of visiting greats including Stan Getz and Roland Kirk. Saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan bridges the trio’s age gap as a millennial with Gen X youngster bassist Eddie Myer completing the triangle.
In a world rich in piano trios ( some wonderful some generic) there’s something beautifully explosive about this piano-less line up that pares a deep love of the tradition ( they bonded over Sonny Rollins 50s and 60s trio work) with a progressive, inventive engine.
The album is loaded with Riley’s excellent original compositions: “I felt I was really able to write to the band’s strength and bring tunes that suit what we do best.” “More than any other project I’ve ever been part of, QOW TRIO really feels like a band, and I think this album shows how we’ve really grown to understand how to bring out the best in each other,” Whilst despite all of his experience and extraordinary encounters the band’s Godfather Spike clearly agrees this is a special and longterm project. “QOW TRIO continues to mature – we play as one voice in all our varied repertoire.”
Look out for QOW Trio on a One Jazz stage soon!
This is our Chosen One.
See QOW Trio at Seven Arts in Leeds on Sunday, March 15.