Charles Rumback - drums/compositions
Jim Baker - piano
John Tate - bass
Drummer, composer, bandleader, and all around creative musician, Charles Rumback performs in many varied and disparate musical settings from deep inside the jazz tradition to the periphery of its outer rings on his third album Threes. Rumback always maintains his characteristic sound and personal language, from the blurry fringes of rock to backing the most plaintive singer-songwriters, with a musical voice that is instantly recognizable.
In 2016, Rumback created an album that made good on its title’s promise of new beginnings with his acclaimed quintet album, In The New Year. The album was well received, earning him a spot on "best of" year-end polls and on the stage of the Von Freeman Pavilion at the 38th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival flanked by trumpet luminary Ron Miles and saxophone greats Tony Malaby and Greg Ward. Now, with his resolutions kept and another Chicago winter in the rearview, Rumback finds himself removing layers, and musicians, to reveal the sparse, yet verdant nature of his working trio with his rhythmic foil John Tate on bass, and the elegant, inquisitive piano of Jim Baker. Captured live from a concert at one of Chicago’s most creative venues for new music, Constellation, Threes is a 21st century update on the classic piano trio.
The album comes out swinging with the Rumback’s composition, ”Salt Lines.” An upbeat opening salvo, and the first of three originals on the recording, “Salt Lines” states a hopeful, albeit bittersweet, melody; one that takes its time to resolve, leaving more questions than answers.
The push and pull of free gravity is felt strongest on the album’s centerpiece composite of "Three Story Birdhouse / Right Reasons.” There is plenty of room for the trio to kinetically move together and disrupt one another, with Baker and Tate tangling their lines in knots only to untie them, open them up, and reveal a constellation of notes tracing out nameless, mythic figures.
“Erato” opens slowly to reveal the trio’s wide open harmonic palette and, in particular, Jim Baker’s dynamic and unique pianism. Rumback’s choice to include an Andrew Hill composition reads like a statement of intent, as if to say, "Here’s where we’re coming from." Although he’s Kansas born and raised, Rumback has long called Chicago home. Covering a Chicago native makes complete sense. But, where is it going?
The albums book end, “Too Toney” is where. The song is a fine example of the drummer’s compositional knack towards the patient and reflective with a gravitational pull into the free; a dark, impressionistic waltz that takes form as if it is still in the darkroom, developing before the listener’s ears, just to shape shift again, out of reach. Rumback’s trio make no mystical attempts at soothsaying, but rather set their sights on the horizon line of the great lake that flanks Chicago to the East. Always looking forward.
Three is the magic number. So says both Bob Dorough and De La Soul. Three is a trio in balance.
Threes is the third album by Charles Rumback as a leader.
credits
released June 23, 2017
Recorded at Constellation in Chicago by Caleb Willitz
Mixed and mastered by Caleb Willitz in Chicago
Cover drawing by Michael Rumback
Album layout/design by Shelia Sachs
Charles Rumback with Jim Baker & John Tate
Jim Baker - piano
John Tate - bass
Charles Rumback - drums
Recorded at Pro Musica Chicago by Ken Christianson
Astral Spirits Charles Rumback
Charles Rumback - drums
Ryley Walker - guitars
Produced by John Hughes
Recorded and Mixed at HFT Studio
Mastered by Heba Kadry
Thrill Jockey Charles Rumback
Patrick Noland - piano
John Tate - bass
Charles Rumback - Drums
Recorded by Ken Christianson at Pro Musica in Chicago
Mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service
ears&eyes Records Charles Rumback
Simply amazing to hear a new album with Wadada and Ewart!! ...And Reed rounds out this trio beautifully.
Just gave it my first spin. Absolutely magical. jeffrey maurer
So happy to see a new album from this band. I've long been a fan of Mazurek and Parker's work in Tortoise, on top of the CUQ... Anyhow, if you're curious about contemporary jazz, this is a terrific place to start.
Hobie Anthony