Album Review: WVC Trio +1: ELEVEN (Black Machine Music Production)

The “+1” means the trio (Tay, Ong and Osmianski) can be plus any other musician, and any instrument.

Eleven is filled with jazzy, classy originals. This is not big band or dancehall jazz. It’s Dave Brubeck plus Keith Jarret and Herbie Hancock.

The guys — Chan on saxophone, Tay on keyboard, Ong on bass and Osmianski on percussion — are each outstanding. They gel on Eleven like steaming-hot roti kaya with black coffee.

Standing In The Rain On Euclid Ave is lovely straight-ahead jazz. Thumping percussion beat against a wistful piano tinkle. The beat is picked up by the piano, which still plays lead, then again by the drums. Ends with tinkling black-and-whites.

The Art of The Windup Alarm Clock was inspired by a Chinese adage, “An inch of gold can’t buy an inch of time”. It’s a melodic, uptempo tune which ends, yes, with an alarm clock ringing.

Hunger Strike has a long segue with drums and piano while Little Steps is no warmup tune as initially intended by Ong. This and Merry-Go-Around have a modern, New York sound.

Caipifutra is cute, even a little house, while Dawn is more smooth jazz in the GruvAvenue style. Eleven is a good album by hot local jazzsters to hold on to.