KING CRIMSON SONGBOOK, VOLUME ONE

Former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace came up with the idea of forming Crimson Jazz Trio in 2004, while still a member of the cover band 21st Century Schizoid Band.The more improvised parts on the King Crimson's covers played by the later pushed him to think of a jazz interpretation of the most famous King Crimson material.In a gig in Nashville he met pianist Jody Nardone, a King Crimson fan as well, and while back in LA, he met bassist Tim Landers to complete the new trio's line-up.A year later ''King Crimson Songbook, Volume One'' would be published on market by Voiceprint.Landers was also responsible for the recording process, which took place at Mudzone Studios in California.

In this album the trio chooses eight famous King Crimson tracks and decides to offer them back in more loose and jazzy formats.The idea of this jazzy interpretation is definitely welcome and trully ambitious.But what about the execution?Well, personally I would have a hard time to recognize any of these tunes as King Crimson's original stuff and that is not necessarilly a bad thing.Wallace & Co. succeeded to deliver eight jazzy compositions with many colors and moods in a very personal style with the jazzy improvisation being the main factor, while the execution is very nice.Plenty of good solos throughout with some fantastic piano work by Nardone and Wallace offering a memorable, confident and powerful drumming.I am not that convinced by Landers' bass work, which remains mostly down the shadows of Wallace and Landers, but he certainly contributes on the overall rich and warm sound.Still, you have to be more of a Jazz than Progressive Rock fan to fully appreciate the album.

An interesting idea by an underrated member of early King Crimson.Recommened especially to Jazz/Fusion buffers but anyone into King Crimson's long career should simply try this ambitious musical project.