Second Language

Pianist David Gordon's fourth CD continues his working trio with bassist Ole Rasmussen and drummer Paul Cavaciuti, though the Englishman is moving farther away from familiar songs and instead focusing more on his own compositions and lesser known traditional melodies, which are rarely played in a jazz setting. The Tibetan "Mantra" provides an understated opener, with a haunting, meditative sound. It segues into Gordon's breezy "Greenland," which utilizes hand muting of the strings in a lively setting suggestive of a romp through wide open fields on a sunny day. "Second Language" has a mysterious introduction before transforming into a midtempo samba. The tense post-bop vehicle, "Peer Pressure," is built upon an insistent, repeated riff. The melancholy ballad "September Moon" showcases Rasmussen's superb solo, while Gordon breathes new life into the standard "What Is This Thing Called Love" with an angular, uptempo arrangement. The David Gordon Trio is deserving of wider exposure outside Europe, and this rewarding session provides ample proof of their growth as a band.