Laura Caviani - Going There (2005) Self-Released [FLAC|Lossless|tracks + .cue] <Post-Bop, Piano Jazz>

The piano trio is a delicate thing, kinda like cooking. Too much of this, not enough of that… For all things created to come out right, sometimes it’s what you leave out that makes it delicious. That’s exactly what composer, arranger and pianist Laura Caviani has accomplished on her new Minneapolis-based CD “Going There.”
A stunning photo of Laura graces the cover, and her jazzy, self-produced tunes are as lovely as is she. When I noticed she hired her dear friend and top-notch musician in her own right Karrin Allyson’s rhythm section of Topeka-born, Kansas City-bred bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Todd Strait, I knew this puppy would fly. As a matter of fact, it not only flies, it soars.
Caviani cleverly crafts each selection, knowing how to use space and dynamics to perfection. Todd and Bob are stone pros who weave in and out of Laura’s nifty keyboarding, and set up a mosaic of sound. They’ve gigged and recorded with the best—and each other—for decades, and it shows. Their stone-cold accuracy in providing the perfect accompaniment for the wide variety of fine compositions written by Caviani is most admirable. Being on the playing side of the biz for years, I can attest to the fact that no matter how “great” you might be, if your band sucks, you suck. On the other hand, if they cook you feel propelled to excel. In the case of this aforementioned trio, when they’re all that hot… look out.
“Going There” isn’t a CD that blazes, but of the “cool jazz” variety with just a touch of a wistful melancholy that makes me wonder if Laura was going back somewhere, visiting a musical reflection of days past. My fave track, showing off her well-honed beboppish licks, is “In the Interim,” which should have been the lead-off cut, for my money. All other selections are enjoyable listening, with a catchy vocal number entitled “Between the Lines,” utilizing a back-up horn section for a nice change of pace.
The band really hits their groove in a zone-like fashion on “The Gilded Cage,” which will by then have you, the listener, in the palms of its hands on this rather dreamy, but spirited jazz journey. Matthew Zimmerman’s recording capabilities at Wild Sound Studios, in Minneapolis, and Ms. Caviani’s production skills, are totally copasetic and in sync.
-- Butch Berman

Laura Caviani - piano, vocals (7)
Bob Bowman - bass
Todd Strait - drums
Pete Whitman - tenor saxophone (7)
Dave Jensen - trumpet (7)
Jeff Rinear - trombone (7)

Recorded at Wild Sound Studios, Minneapolis, MN.