Run that lockdown voodoo down with this gem, the lead-off track from Francisco Mela's MPT Trio Volume 1. I'll definitely forgive the dusty ''vol. 1'' bit because there's nothing at all dusty about this record.
To be frank I'm not that familiar with drummer leader Mela, although happily dredging the memory banks I managed to catch him live as one of two drummers in the Joe Lovano organisation of the day in Ronnie Scott's when Us5 made a spectacular Frith Street debut back in 2009, Esperanza Spalding also in the band at that time.
On Brooklyn label 577, whose recent records include in some astute A&R-ing fiery UK player Rachel Musson, Mela's record is a trio affair with tenorist Hery Paz and guitarist Juanma Trujillo joining him. The label description of Trujillo tune opener 'Calipso' streaming ahead of next week's release explains that the track ''features distinctive steel drums reminiscent of Caribbean calypsos.''
The track begins with Mela calling us to listen, and a raw street style readying us for who knows what. Then there's a gutsy tenor and guitar line, sort of in a watered down Albert Ayler style, a reluctant theme teased out that Mela fattens up rolling out a carpet of sounds behind. Paz takes us further with Trujillo riffing contrapuntally against him and when he eventually comes into his own paints it bluesy and jagged all over. What a trip.
Release date for MPT Trio Volume 1 is Friday 15 January
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