For a decade, the trio of Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, and Ted
Nash has coalesced into a singular ensemble highlighting impressive
group interplay and creative interpretations of the music
of their favorite composers. After years of focusing on the music of
others, the drummer-less trio found it the right time to take on the
compositions of its members on the new recording, Triological.
The relationships between Allison, Cardenas, and Nash have
spanned decades. Woodwind master Nash enlisted Allison for
the bassist’s rst professional gig in 1990. Their bond deepened later
in the decade as they became members of the Jazz Composers
Collective. Guitarist Steve Cardenas was brought into Allison’s orbit
in 2004, the two discovering a deep connection evidenced on the
many projects they have worked on together.
The trio came together when Cardenas and Allison were approached
with a gig in Upstate New York. For the performance,
they decided to focus on the music of guitar legend Jim Hall. After
a rst rehearsal, Cardenas and Allison decided to add a horn to the
mix in homage to the revolutionary trio of Jimmy Giu re, which
had featured Hall and bassist Ralph Pena. Their choice of Nash as
the woodwind voice was inspired and the trio has been impressing
listeners ever since.