Kinn

On the more contemporary side of things, Marc van Roon and companions take their piano, bass and drums trio down some innovative, exploratory avenues. As always with Marc van Roon, we here have some excellent improvisational music, filled with varied and unique sound combinations and rhythms that defy easy categorization. Is it jazz? Is it classical? There are no traditional rules applied here. The trio is comprised of Marc van Roon on piano and synths, Omer Govreen on double bass and Tristan Renfrow on drums. The acoustic environment of Schiedam's Westvest90 Church in the Netherlands once again provides just the right acoustic space, that Brendon Heinst leverages beautifully.

Memorable melodies serve as gateways to solos before the musicians re-voice the theme to tidily resolve the performance. None of that applies to Kinn when Marc van Roon pursues a decidedly more abstract approach and avoids clichés at every step.

In his trio, freedom is paramount and so too is deep listening between the participants, the Dutch pianist (here playing a Steinway grand) and his partners, double bassist Omer Govreen and drummer Tristan Renfrow. No structural safety nets exist when the three embrace improv at its most extreme. That makes for both unpredictable and exciting music and maximum listening engagement, even if no one will come way humming a melody.

Renfrow and Govreen are both wellsprings of invention throughout, explosive at one moment and delicately textural the next. While piano is the primary melodic instrument by default, the playing's characterized here, just as intended, by balance. It's less a piano-led trio with bass and drums functioning as support than a multi-limbed entity where all three are equally responsible for the result.

As is always the case with TRPTK releases, the sound quality is state-of-the-art, and the performances, laid down in Schiedam's Westvest90 Church in the Netherlands, benefit from the resonant acoustics of the recording locale and are captured beautifully.