Track Listing

1. Trio Piece In Seconds and Thirds    3:13

2. Bananeiro    4:49

3. Maxine's Stomp    3:27

4. Scumbag Blues    2:58

5. I Sold You and You Sold Me    5:54

6. No Tengo Un Puto Duro    4:26

7. The Tomasa Variations    7:42

8. Pearls Before Swine    3:47

9. The Game With Mirrors    6:51

10. Study In Seconds and Thirds    1:23

11. The Deadly Vice of Nostalgia    4:10

12. Spring    5:42

13. Stand a Little Taller at Yom Kippur    5:41

14. Five Note Rag    5:50

Click on above buttons to hear samples from select tracks

 

   More info & reviews 

The compositions represent a diverse cross section of Ben's writing with influences ranging from Herbie Hancock to Jelly Roll Morton, Brazilian music, gospel and Bartok. The title reflects the influence of pre-modern jazz styles, re-interpreted in a contemporary setting. “While I was writing the pieces that have a stride feel, I was listening to a lot of Ellington recordings, especially the 60s suites and small group sessions. I was also attracted to the vitality and humour in the music of Jelly Roll Morton and other stride pianists. I became aware of a whole tradition in jazz that has nothing to do with bop or post-bop, and I wanted to find ways of including it in my own music.”

The pieces make use of hits, stabs and lines that are broken up across the three instruments, harking back to a Red Garland concept of the trio as a mini big band, but with a modern twist. Of course they cut loose as three improvisers as well, which almost goes without saying.

The Ben Winkelman Trio are Ben Winkelman (Piano), Rodrigo Aravena (Bass), Danny Fischer (Drums).

Ben studied with former Jazz Messenger Mickey Tucker and Paul Grabowsky in the early nineties and has led an active professional life ever since. He has pursued numerous musical interests, such as salsa, Brazilian music, tango, klezmer, electronic music and classical music, but his main focus remains jazz. He was a member of the pioneering live electronica act Ping, and still plays with Rumberos, the very popular 14 piece Afro-Cuban band. “During the period that I wrote the pieces that have a bit of a stride feel, I was listening to a lot of Ellington recordings, especially small group sessions, and checking out Jelly Roll Morton pieces.

 I was attracted to the vitality and humour in this music, and I got to thinking that there’s a whole tradition in jazz that has nothing to do with bop or post-bop that I had mainly neglected until now, and I wanted to find ways to use some of it in my own music. One of my early teachers, Mickey Tucker, used to say that learning jazz was like learning a language, and learning about stride has been like discovering the missing sections of my jazz dictionary.”   

“I always find his work interesting and engaging.”

Jessica Nicholas, 3RRR, presenter of ‘The Village’

 “Ben's work is mature and consistently interesting. His technique is excellent and his ideas are always stimulating.”

 Steve Robertson, 3PBS, presenter of ‘Jazz On Saturday’  

“Just when we thought everything possible with jazz piano trios had been done, this Melbourne trio's debut album forces a rethink.”

 John McBeath, The Australian

“The debut album of Melbourne’s Ben Winkelman Trio is quite splendid. Pianist Winkelman’s 14 joyous originals embody the exhilaration of music making and not a hint of fat. …here we come a little closer to the divine.”

Ken Williams, The Age EG

**** “Here's a party with conversations everywhere…”

Leon Gettler, The Age Green Guide

 “A welcome addition to the thriving Melbourne contemporary jazz scene.”

Mal Stanley, ABC Classic FM, presenter of ‘Jazztrack’

 You can e-mail him at bwinkelman@headrecords.com