Roy Haynes, Phineas Newborn, Paul Chambers - We Three (1958/2014)

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Roy Haynes, Phineas Newborn, Paul Chambers - We Three (1958/2014)

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This was not a working trio, except for a series of Mondays at the Five Spot Café in the fall of 1958, but it is a unit that is made up of three powerful parts whose sum is even greater than its whole. What they do with two Ray Bryant orginals, Avery Parrish’s classic blues, “After Hours,” Tadd Dameron’s “Our Delight,” and Phineas Newborn’s “Sugar Ray,” is memorable music from an all-star trio that would never get together again.

„We Three, recorded in a single session on November 14, 1958, was the first American studio date as a bandleader for the diminutive and legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, although with pianist Phineas Newborn on board (along with bassist Paul Chambers), it really is a set dominated by Newborn, whose busy, two-handed technique here works in tandem balance with Haynes' cool refinement. Newborn was all about amazing and dazzling piano runs that on some dates created simply too much flash and clutter to allow pieces to flow and breathe properly, but Haynes has always been about grace and flow throughout his career (if a drummer's style can said to be elegant, Haynes fits the bill), and here he rubs off on Newborn, who exercises just enough restraint to keep him in the proper orbit, resulting in a fine album. Highlights include the easy, pure swing of the opener, a version of Ray Bryant's 'Reflection,' a wonderful and bluesy rendition of Avery Parrish's 'After Hours' (which finds Newborn in perfect balance between explosive ornamentation and smooth functionality), and a jaunty, fun spin through Newborn's own 'Sugar Ray,' a tribute to boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. This trio had a brief recording career together, but as this solid set shows, they made the best of it.“ (Steve Leggett)

'…One of the greatest piano trio recordings in the history of jazz. Newborn sounds at once like all of Miles' pianists run through a harmonic sanctifier, giving another shape and color to both bop and the blues…' (Musician)

„This is a record I have been listening to for 35 years now and it only gets better each time. The way that Roy was playing this early pre-dates just about anything since in the sense of defining a fresh, modern approach to rhythm. Phineas is a constant inspiration and Paul Chambers is the groove/note choice champ of all time. In a newly remastered version, it is better than ever.“ (Pat Metheny)