Koppel Colley Blade Collective: Perspective
Cowbell Music

There's a good reason why this trio's named Koppel Colley Blade Collective and not The Benjamin Koppel Trio—even if its latest album Perspective appears on the Danish alto saxophonist's Cowbell Music. Yes, the primary melodic weight naturally falls to Koppel, but as integral to the group's identity are bassist Scott Colley and Brian Blade. That's reflected in the mix, too, as each instrument is emphasized equally, bass as audible as saxophone and Blade's drumming as compelling and captivating as always. The magical connection that was so apparent when the three first performed together at Koppel's Summer Jazz festival in Copenhagen in 2012 remains solidly in place on the new recording.

All three are in-demand musicians, Koppel an award-winner with more than thirty albums as a band-leader to his name, Colley a first-call bassist who's distinguished other artists' recordings as well as ones issued under his own name, and Blade someone whose exceptional drumming's enriched the music of Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, and others. The Collective members commit themselves as fervently to the trio project as to any other endeavour, Perspective compelling evidence by way of illustration. Koppel's playing is acrobatic and his sound fluid, sleek, and smooth, Colley's is assured and attuned, and Blade's his usual creative, unerring self. Regardless of the style of the tune in play, the interactions between these effortlessly gifted players beguile, and hearing Koppel glide breezily across the energized invention of his partners makes for rewarding listening. Consider, for instance, how adroitly the three adapt to the rapidl tempo switch-ups in “Speed Cubing Rubiks Cube.”

While the playing's evenly balanced, the writing isn't, Koppel credited with five pieces, Colley three, and one to the trio. No tune's more appealing than Koppel's “Alphabet Thief,” whose pied piper-like melodic figure and swinging funk groove are enticing. As the three work through multiple episodes, some fast and others slow and bluesy, the playing registers as tight and the approach creative. At times the saxophonist and bassist play in unison, which lets Blade give full rein to his imagination. Regardless of the pairings that emerge, the dialogue between the three is always fresh and responsive. Structural scaffolding is clearly in place from one track to the next, and the trio locates a comfortable middle ground between following notated charts and improvising freely.

November 2023