Alister Spence Trio - Fit

Voted by The Wire (UK) in Top 15 Jazz/improv Releases Worldwide for 2009
 

'This is a massive breakthrough for the Alister Spence Trio; a collective leap of imagination far beyond anything the band has attempted before.

On most pieces, all vestiges of a conventional piano-bass-drums jazz trio are erased, replaced by three-way real-time composing, with a microscope placed on group texture, so that tiny contributions from each instrument become monumental parts of the enthralling music.

The result is that Spence's piano and electronics, Lloyd Swanton's bass and Toby Hall's drums and glockenspiel emerge as utterly equal partners. Even when the bass and drums revert to rhythm section functions as on Five Hundred Suns, the piano is reined in and shares the misty foreground with Hall's glockenspiel.

The programming is also inspired, creating a narrative studded with contrasts.

John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald 24th October 2009
 

Alister Spence- piano
Lloyd Swanton- bass
Toby Hall- drums, glockenspiel

This is the fourth release for this internationally acclaimed group, and once again they are delving deeper into their captivating and highly original musical world.
fit sees the launch of a new project that blends (or ‘fits’) texture, sound scape, free improvisation and editing, while still delivering the strong melody and seemingly effortless interplay that are hallmarks of this longstanding collaboration.
The CD is accompanied by a DVD, featuring the work of film artist Louise Curham, set to the band’s music.
Louise is at the forefront of Australian moving image art. She is highly regarded in the experimental film world for her work using "obsolete media." Her hand-worked Super 8 films reinvent the home movie medium of years gone by, through colour, texture and abstracted image.

fit is another big step forward for the trio, and a worthy successor to their ARIA nominated CDs Flux (2003) and Mercury (2007).
It is no surprise that they have attracted interest overseas.
In 2006 the band played U.K/Canada including the Vancouver and Montreal Jazz International Jazz festivals.
Last year they (2008) performed at the prestigious Tokyo Jazz Festival.
In June the trio was chosen by Brian Eno along with the Necks and Pivot, to play at the Luminous Festival at the Sydney Opera House.
In October this year Alister will perform the trio’s music with European musicians at the Vilnius Jazz Festival (Lithuania) and club dates in Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.


‘The cutting edge of modern Australia defined’
Sydney Morning Herald 2008
‘Ingenious themes…Spence is certainly a talent deserving wider recognition.’
The Wire, UK, 2008
‘Spence has that priceless gift of always leaving you wanting more.’
Jazzwise Magazine, UK, 2006
 

Recorded at Electric Avenue Studios Sydney by Ross Ahern (Bernie McGann, The catholics, Clarion Fracture Zone)
4-5/1/08 + 22/1/09
Mixed at Electric Avenue by Tim Whitten (the Necks, Powderfinger, Augie March)
Mastered by Kathy Naunton at dB studios (Paul Mac, Robynne Dunn, Sydney Symphony Orchestra)
Production, editing and re-composition Spence