FLY? A verb? A noun? Yes, but it's mostly an adjective here, and it's a word that is poly-descriptive of this cooperative trio that flies like a skitterish fly and is as hip, as fly, as they come. Mark Turner puts it well, "...just like our music, FLY has a little bit of mystery attached to it."

The idea of a leaderless group is not new - one thinks of Bill Evan's trio with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian - but then, I just identified it as "Bill Evan's trio" - perhaps there is a message there. Today, maybe the Mingus Big Band makes the closest approach to a truly cooperative organization, and the San Francisco Jazz Collective might fit the bill, though when Branford Marsallis shows up, he is the man. The norm today, as it always has been since Louis Armstrong "invented" the solo, is a leader backed and supported by others. The melody is stated, the leader usually solos first, other solos follow, there is some interplay, "4's" perhaps, then back to the melody and out. It's time-tested and works well. But there are other ways, and it's one of them that you'll hear from this group, which is a true cooperative. Any of the three can take the lead; the melody might be in the drums as easily as the tenor. Mark Turner might be taking the bass line - it's not Mr. Grenadier's sole responsibility. Some of their tunes dissolve into three-way improvisations iin which there is no single person playing the major role - all three are. Grenadier puts it well, "Each instrument is constantly shifting its function...The mystery for the band and the audience lies in this steady shift of perspective." FLY came together when the three members were all on a Chick Corea recording date - another cooperative called Originations. They did some trio gigs together, toured Italy, and found that the group worked.

Mark Turner is a splendid saxophonist, and someone I use as a diagnostic. A person who likes Mark Turner is almost certain to know what he or she is talking about. Turner is a musician's musician (See Ben Ratliff's serious and glowing review of his work at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E3DC1F3DF935A25755C0A9649C8B63), and a serious listener's musician too. I find his improvisations are unfailingly intelligent - he always - always! - rewards close listening.

Jeff Ballard and Larry Grenadier have played together for years since their days in California and each has established himself in superior trios - both have been members of Brad Mehldau's trio, for example and Ballard still is. Ballard and Grenadier ar both virtuosic soloists. In FLY they are freed to express that virtuosity throughout each tune. There are moments - delicious moments - when this trio comes perilously close to the edge of the cliff. Of course, it is just such moments that can lead to great music. You can hear some of it on their only CD, FLY, 2004, which got a 4-star Downbeat review. My favorite tune on the CD is "Fly, Mr. Freakjar" a song written cooperatively and performed that same way, as each member of the trio plays different roles at different times. The music is cerebral, but never ignores the visceral - it's different, challenging, and exciting. You can join these wonderful musicians and approach that cliff edge with them at JazzNights 24 next December 7th.

CDs:

FLY: This trio Savoy, 2004

Mark Turner as leader:

In This World

(with Larry Grenadier and others, Warner Brothers 47074, 1998

Mark Turner, (Warner Brothers, 46701, 1998)

Ballad Session

(with Larry Grenadier and others, Warner Brothers, 2000)

Dharma Days

(Warner Brothers, 2001)

There are several videos of FLY on utube - they are pretty murky.... just search for Mark Turner and/or FLY