Drummer/composer Matt Slocum brings together guitarist Emmanuel Michael and veteran Larry Grenadier on bass for A Revolving Alliance. The title track leads things off, and “revolving alliance” is an apt metaphor for the band’s energetic interactions. The blend of Michael’s effects-laden guitar, Grenadier’s fluid bass, and Slocum’s sensitive drumming is captivating from the very start. With the focus continually shifting, the listener has a number of ways to listen as the music unfolds. The inter-generational lineup is an energizing force in this trio. Bassist Grenadier is the eldest, with hundreds of credits since his first appearance on a recording by pianist Larry Vuckovich in 1983. Drummer/leader Slocum, just two when Grenadier went into the studio for the first time, made his debut as a leader in 2011 with After The Storm. A Revolving Alliance is hie fourth release for Sunnyside, and Grenadier has been aboard for all of them. Guitarist Michael, younger still, has only burst on the scene in the last few years, recording with the likes of Dayna Stephens, Marcus Gilmore, and Gregory Hutchinson. Although the program includes some up-tempo burners, like the title track and the surging Two Dragons, with a terrific drum solo by Slocum, much of A Revolving Alliance offers gently atmospheric pieces, like Yerazel with some beautifully delicate playing by Michael and an absorbing bass solo by Grenadier, and A Disappearing Path, largely a feature for Michael’s ethereal guitar stylings. I’ve only heard a couple of the sessions the guitarist has worked on, so it’s a particular pleasure to listen to his innovative playing in the relatively austere context of a trio. A very rewarding disc, and well worth revisiting often. Happily recommended.
Sunnyside SSC 1810; Emmanuel Michael (g) Larry Grenadier (b) Matt Slocum (d); NYC, March 21, 2025; A Revolving Alliance/ Yerazel/ A Disappearing Path/ New Dream/ Two Dragons/ Solstice/ A Dissolving Alliance; 41:09. sunnysiderecords.com
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