Album Review: Essence from Ryan Daunt Trio

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Album:  Essence
Artist:  Ryan Daunt Trio
Label:  Self-Released
Website:  https://ryandaunt.bandcamp.com/album/essence

Pairing the intensity of classical piano with the kinetic interplay and magnetic charm of improvised jazz, the Ryan Daunt Trio, led by drummer Ryan Daunt, bring audiences their latest offering Essence.  Laden in a variety of harmonic forms, pianist Tristan Wills and bassist Nick Abbey join Daunt on 11 tracks that illustrate their expressive leanings.

The trio truly channel their thoughts and personalities into the music, showing a strong sense of what they want to say and how they want to portray their phrasing.  The title track especially gives audiences the impression that each musician performs independent of the others while also displaying a shared awareness of one another, forming a multi-faceted dialogue.  The cool jazz strut of the rhythmic beats trotting along "Lux" exhibit the playful side of the trio to audiences, keeping the improvised patterns light and airy.

Wills's playing turns intense through "Soup and Tea" while Daunt's pounding on the drums and shimmying cymbals accentuate the expressive phrasing driving the track.  The laid-back treads of "A Walk with You" soften the recording to a series of low-lit glimmers while "Bad Maths" ignite a sharp intensity in Daunt's drumming reminiscent of the power pop fusion of Mannheim Steamroller.  The prayerlike tone of Wills's keys strolling along "Slow Burn" is supported by Daunt's and Abbey's steady beats.  Their communication is kinetic and their interplay magnetic.

A graduate of Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts with a first class honors degree in Music, majoring in jazz performance, Ryan Daunt shows an enthusiasm that is palpable.  With all tracks written by Daunt, the trio's latest offering illustrates their tendency to freely express themselves.  Their variety of harmonic forms stretch their independence and exhibit an ability to improvise while delivering a shared awareness of one another.

Musicians:
Ryan Daunt - Drums
Tristan Wills - Piano
Nick Abbey – Bass


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