King Crimson Songbook

 

This post may get moved.....because despite the King Crimson connection, this is really a fairly straightforward jazz trio playing some nice tunes, that happen to have been penned by Messrs Fripp and co, rather than a "prog" album. The esteemed Dick Heath mentioned this album some while back; I tracked it down recently and have been playing it almost constantly this week. The players are Jody Nardone - grand piano - Tim Landers - fretless bass - and Ian Wallace (yes that Ian Wallace) on drums. The tracklisting:

 

1. 21st CSM

2. Three of a Perfect Pair 

3. Catfood

4. Starless

5. Ladies of the Road

6. I Talk to the Wind

7. Red

8. Matte Kudasai

 

So what does the music of King Crimson played by a jazz trio sound like? Well, like the music of KC played by a jazz trio....and Fripp approves, or so the sleeve notes say, his reaction being:

 

1st response: "yes!"

2nd response: "when's volume 2?"

 

These reworkings of KC classics allow space for the muso's to improvise, and certain songs work better than others. 21st CSM kicks off the album in fine style; yes you recognise the track, but it's very different from the original and the re-arrangement works in its own right, if you put your prejudices aside. My personal favourite is "Ladies of the Road" - the track here with the most swing, though ironically always a disappointment as a KC number for me. "I Talk to the Wind" shows what a great melody McDonald wrote. Not all work so well; "Starless", possibly KC's finest moment, doesn't really translate here, and "Three of a Perfect Pair" is a bit too cocktail lounge for my taste.

 

If you come at this from the view you like jazz and jazz trios - simple piano, bass and drums - you will probably like this; but if you're a died in the wool Crimson fan, do be warned, this could take a bit of getting used to. For my part, I hope there's a Volume 2, and as the slightly sycophantic sleevenotes say, when's the tour boys?

 

Last word to Fripp - "There have been honourable renditions & representations but, until now, without significantly adding to my understanding of Crimson material." 

 

'Nuff said?

They do numbers from the first album all the way up to the early 80s stuff.  Can anyone give a quick review of the album?