Against the backdrop of over 25 years of creative collaboration, bassist Ben Allison, guitarist Steve Cardenas, and saxophonist Ted Nash weave musical conversations that are full of subtlety and surprise. These independently successful jazzmen have released four albums as a trio. The inspiration for this collaboration was Jimmy Giuffre’s drummerless units of the 1950’s and 60’s. As jazz was becoming more expressionistic and at times bombastic, musicians like Giuffre were going in the opposite direction. They were envisioning quieter music that maintained elements of blues and folk, while also embracing the emerging qualities of free playing.
Bassist, composer and producer Ben Allison has performed and recorded his own brand of music for nearly three decades. Known for his inspired arrangements, inventive grooves and hummable melodies, he has developed his own instantly identifiable sound. Allison has released 19 albums as a main or featured artist, 7 of which reached #1 on the national jazz radio charts, garnering him 9 SESAC Performance Awards. Ben has performed and collaborated with a stylistically diverse range of artists including oudist Ara Dinkjian, kora player Mamadou Diabate, and saxophonists Lee Konitz and Joe Lovano. He won the Downbeat Critics’ Poll in the Rising Star Bassist category three consecutive years.
