Laszlo Gardony - Close Connection

Following two daring solo recordings in which he reimagined jazz standards and explored spontaneous composition (2017’s Serious Play, 2019’s La Marseillaise), Hungarian-born pianist-composer Laszlo Gardony reunites with his favorite rhythm tandem of bassist John Lockwood and drummer Yoron Israel on Close Connection, his 11th album for Sunnyside Records.

In this highly interactive trio setting, the Boston-based pianist rekindles his chemistry with Lockwood and Israel from their previous simpatico encounters together on 2003’s Ever Before Ever After, 2006’s Natural Instinct, 2008’s Dig Deep, 2011’s Signature Time and 2015’s Life in Real Time.

“It was absolutely comfortable,” says the veteran musician of the freewheeling session for Close Connection. “We’ve been playing together more than 20 years, and after all that time it’s easy to communicate these ideas in my head for the band. Music is always about something that you feel and imagine, not something that verbal communication could really express. Of course, I write detailed charts for my compositions, but they really understand the vibe and the whole feel and meaning of what has inspired the music and what I’m trying to express.”