Something Special

Swiss jazz guitarist Peter Eigenmann and his fellow countrymen, bassist Isla Eckinger and drummer Peter Schmidlin, perform a series of standards and originals on this beautifully recorded 2000 release. Here, the Trio renders a hearty mix that encompasses soft bop, mid-tempo swing, and a few lilting ballads, as the musicians rigidly adhere to concepts pioneered by many of their predecessors during the advent of the jazz-based guitar trio format. Yet with this release, Eigenmann and his musical companions meld improvisation and tuneful melodies with a quiet fire that emits an impressionable aura; although, their approach remains relatively consistent with a formula that has worked for several decades. However, Eigenmann exhibits savvy and gusto while injecting well-placed chords, limber lines, and subtle inflections in lieu of rummaging through scales and 16th notes. Throughout, the rhythm section lends sympathetic support, while also providing a few twists, turns, and deviations from the norm in concert with Eigenmann's fluidly melodic lines performed on his hollow-body electric. Essentially, "Something Special" is an admirable ode to the much beloved guitar trio, legacy as the musicians provide the necessary sparkle and glimmer that, at times, counterbalances the straight-forward ensemble work.