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Three stories, one end

by Simon Nabatov trio

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1.
Three stories, one end 06:23
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2.
Emily 09:40
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3.
For Herbie 07:03
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4.
Epistrophy 10:09
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5.
Groofta 11:15
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6.
I wish I knew 05:45
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7.
Giant steps 04:27
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8.
St. Thomas 03:38
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9.
Wish I were there 04:09
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about

BBC Music World

The Simon Nabatov Trio’s first album, recorded (with Mark Helias rather than Drew Gress on bass) in 1992, was entitled Tough Customer, a slightly joky reference to its leader’s demanding perfectionism. Classically trained at the Moscow Conservatory, resident in New York during the Eighties and now based in Cologne, Nabatov has an enviable technique, an extraordinarily imaginative improvisational gift and a fertile compositional talent, manifested here in four rich, complex originals that positively bristle with ideas.
 
Lightning-fast reflexes, constant alertness and wide-open ears are consequently essential requirements in his rhythm section, and both Gress and Tom Rainey (the latter described by Nabatov as ‘specialised in tasteful grooves but [with] open ears for the avant-garde’) demonstrate all these attributes to perfection throughout this rigorously demanding but consistently rewarding album.
 
In addition to Nabatov’s absorbingly tricksy originals, the album’s two standards and three modern jazz classics receive compelling, original treatments, as if Nabatov’s intention were to make life as difficult as humanly possible for himself and his partners.
 
‘St Thomas’ and Johnny Mandel’s winsome ballad ‘Emily’ are thus completely refashioned, in both time and mood; ‘Epistrophy’ is so radically remodelled as to be barely recognisable for much of its ten-minute length; ‘Giant Steps’ is slowed to a tempo that demands the utmost skill from its players and the most careful attention from its listeners.
 
If the album’s initial effect is, as a result of all this fearsome virtuosity, a trifle forbidding, it richly repays sustained attention: Nabatov is a great communicator; it’s just that in his own trio music he communicates, for the most part, musical intelligence and subtlety rather than uncomplicated enjoyment of his extravagant pianistic gift.

Chris Parker

credits

released March 3, 2023

Simon Nabatov - piano
Drew Gress - bass
Tom Rainey - drums

recorded November 2000 by Christian Heck
in LOFT Cologne

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all rights reserved

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Simon Nabatov Cologne, Germany

Simon Nabatov, pianist and composer, was born in Moscow in 1959.
In 1979 he emigrated to the USA, spent in NY next 10 years and 1989 he moved to Germany.
Simon Nabatov played with the "who's who" of the jazz and improvised music community, gave concerts in over 60 countries, appeared on the numerous international festivals, received prizes and documented his music on 30 CD's under his own name. ... more

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