Now This

In the realm of the piano trio the bar is set high, and creative bassist Gary Peacock has helped raise it in the groups of Bill Evans, Paul Bley and Keith Jarrett. 'Now This' is an album with the bassist's current trio, recorded in the summer of 2014 in Oslo and issued in time for Peacock's 80th birthday (on 12 May, 2015). Powerful new versions of some Peacock classics - such as "Moor", "Vignette", "Requiem" and "Gaya" - are interspersed with recent compositions. Pianist Marc Copland and drummer Joey Baron each contribute tunes, and the group also tackles Scott La Faro's "Gloria's Step". In this band, roles are very evenly shared, and this is an optimum context in which to appreciate the melodic invention of Peacock's bass playing. Marc Copland always honours the needs of the compositions and Joey Baron supplies both drive and sensitive detail