On the wholly enjoyable Aries Dance, pianist Randy Ingram and his trio with Drew Gress on bass and Billy Hart on drums straddle the line between the early paradigm of piano with accompaniment and the more modern approach of engaged interaction among the players as pioneered by Bill Evans and his trios. The program consists of six originals, a pair of well-chosen standards, and Wayne Shorter’s Penelope. Ingram notes that he “wanted to make [his] compositions as streamlined as possible, to give Billy and Drew room to interpret.” It’s clear from the start of his Toward Polaris, an elegant and mellow waltz, that the musicians are highly attuned to the nuances of one another’s playing. The impeccable Drew Gress has recorded a couple of sessions previously with Ingram, in duo and trio formats. The propulsive and sensitive Billy Hart happened to catch Ingram in performance in New York and was attracted to his style. The pianist’s graceful and subtly swinging approach to the piano and the quality of his tunes give the whole date a genuinely warm and relaxed feeling. It no doubt helped the project that they played a club gig before recording, and had the services of esteemed recording engineer James Farber in the studio. Aries Dance is a delightful listening experience. Recommended.
Sounderscore SO 008; Randy Ingram (p) Drew Gress (b) Billy Hart (d); NYC, May 3, 2024; Toward Polaris/ Para Milton e Pedro/ Into the Night/ You and the Night and the Music/ Penelope/ Aries Dance/ Castle and Fog/ Guimarães/ Dedicated to You; 46:44. www.sounderscore.com
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