Jazz Trio without a Bass Player

[SpiceyPocket]

Hi, I'm currently playing in a jazz group consisting of Guitar (me), Drums and Sax. We're playing jazz standards. Can anyone think of any recordings with a similar instrumentation? I'm interested in how other guitarists might have dealt with this configuration.

It sets up an interesting dynamic and definitely pushes me to improve! I like playing the bass line with the chords... That's a lot of fun. But when it comes to soloing through the whole form I'm faced with a number of decisions...

[Hupia]

Only trio with that configuration that comes to mind right now is Paul Motian's trio with Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell:

Definitely worth looking into, in my opinion.

[marcwhy]

Several albums of Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, and Paul Motian.

[neatomic]

yes was going to mention motian…trioism...

as well as tiny bell trio with dave douglas-trumpet not sax, brad shepik-g and jim black-d…killer

but neither group did standards!

cheers

[ronjazz]

Actually, the Motian trio did lots of standards, and recorded several as well.

I have a trio of guitar, woodwinds and percussion, but I play 7-string and employ
a looper occasionally. I do love providing the entire harmonic structure, especially
with a good horn player, and we go for groove, like Charlie Hunter, but with more
standards with long forms. The Motian trio utilizes space beautifully, that takes courage.

[wizard3739]

I am currently playing with a local dance band with a lot of old standard dance music mostly from from the 30's, 40's and 50's. We hold a dance twice a month (2nd and 4th Saturdays) for local dancers and anyone who wants to attend.
Our Band (Matthews' Dance Band) consists of a very good drummer, a good chord-playing guitarist, leader who is an excellent reed player and I play lead guitar and bassline harmony as needed. I do most of the arranging but we all help when choosing songs for the next dance. We have a good repertoire of about 450 songs but are adding more each week. Our goal is to provide real dance music in all the popular dance styles. Those of you who know me, also know I would prefer to play more jazz but this is a small town and not a lot of jazz is played here, so I have to make do with what is available. We do have a lot of fun, we are all retired over 65 and very pleased to be working together.
On another subject, Howard Alden, an old friend and classmate from G.I.T. (!978) will be coming to Payson sometime in mid-November for a jazz trio (guitar, Bass, & Drums) concert on a Sunday afternoon. Those of you who know about Howard, know that he is a World-Class Master Guitarist and will provide Payson with a rare opportunity to enjoy his talents. That is all the info I have for now but I will be back with details in a few days.

wiz (Howie)

[SpiceyPocket]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm going to check them out.

[mr. beaumont]

The lovano Motian Frisell shit is enough to make a bassist shrivel

[SpiceyPocket]

I'm a Frisell fan as well and think he was definitely at the top of his game in this trio. It had been years since I heard this trio and revisiting it just now was great. I think I appreciate it even more now than I did years ago... As much as they "push the envelope" Frisell was playing really melodically (I can hear all the changes even when he's playing solo lines). And watching videos of Motian is really cool. Until I saw him on video I didn't realize how much humor he had... Maybe it's just me but the way he plays around with the rhythms on the cymbals (+ the look on his face) made me smile

[Arnesto]

Ron Miles circuit rider and the jimmy giuffre records Too
I play in a similar situation, but with a flugel.

Best!

[Sam Sherry]

It's not a trio and it's not standards but Chris Potter's "Underground" band had no bassist. The live disc, "Follow the Red Line," is tippity-top.

Potter, saxophones
Adam Rogers, guitar
Craig Taborn, keys
Nate Smith, drums

[SpiceyPocket]

Thanks! Which Jimmy Giuffre records should I start with? He's someone I haven't heard much of.

[rkwestcoast]

Check out Searching for Parker by Manu Codjia (g) ,Géraldine Laurent (s alt) and Christophe Marguet (d)

This is one of my favourite albums at present - really interesting take on Parker & bebop

Codjia uses a lot of single line vamps & patterns underpinning Laurent & Marguet's playing..................

Manu Codjia / Geraldine Laurent / Christophe Marguet: Looking For Parker

[Hupia]

Also just remembered Jeff Ballard's trio has that configuration with Lionel Loueke on guitar and Miguel Zenón on alto. I don't know that they've recorded many standards, but still worth listening to for ideas and enjoyment.

Here's Body and Soul again to contrast with the previous example :-)

[neatomic]

Thanks! Which Jimmy Giuffre records should I start with? He's someone I haven't heard much of.

giuffre's my main guy..listening to him right now!..but his guitar trios were sans drums…the famous giuffre 3 featured giuffre on sax and clarinet, jim hall on guitar and either bob brookmeyer on trombone or a bassist

i'm listening to western suite right now..with brookmeyer…great
listened to trav'lin light last night…also with brookmeyer


you really cant go wrong with any 50's giuffre 3 (for your purposes) when hall was in the band…

(in the 60's he formed a piano, bass, horn trio)

cheers

ps if you look at the more recent "what are you listening to now" thread..you'll find a bunch talked about

[Arnesto]

Thanks! Which Jimmy Giuffre records should I start with? He's someone I haven't heard much of.

There´s a box out there with the all recordings, I have these and is great!

[neatomic]

btw, amongst my fave frisell trio stuff is the recent gnostic trio…doing john zorn compositions..just beautiful…

Carol Emanuel - harp, Bill Frisell - guitar Kenny Wollesen - vibraphone, bells

cheers

ps- they have 3 recordings out..all sublime

fr wiki

In Lambeth (subtitled Visions from the Walled Garden of William Blake) is an album composed by John Zorn and performed by Bill Frisell, Carol Emanuel and Kenny Wollesen which as recorded in New York City in April 2013 and released on the Tzadik label in December 2013.[1] The album is the third by the trio following The Gnostic Preludes (2012) and The Mysteries (2013). Its title quotes from William Blake's poem Jerusalem

[SpiceyPocket]

I like this! Thanks! I wish my French was better so I could understand what they're saying.

What kind of effects pedal do you think Manu Codjia is using? Or to put it another way (less exact), how can I experiment with similar sounds? I've always been a 'plug-directly-into-the-amp-man' but now I'm feeling the need to add a little more interest to my tone. I play so much better when I'm in love with the tone I'm getting and I don't feel like that lately. And life is short! haha

[SpiceyPocket]

Zorn's always up to something interesting. Thanks for pointing this particular project out. Nice stuff.

[Stanford J17]

Check out "Hyperactive Kid". A Trio from Berlin, Germany. The drummer is amazing to watch and listen to.

There are some videos of Tom Lippincott in a duo with drums (although it's more percussion than a drum set).
And what immediately came to my mind was Charlie Hunter Trio. But that's may be a little too bassy ;-)

[christianm77]

Bill also did a nice record - Beautiful Dreamer - with drums, viola and guitar

[neatomic]

charlie hunters latest lp is killer..let the bells ring on…trio!...him, bobby previte on drums and the great curtis fowlkes on trombone…of course charlie does bass and guitar on his novak 7 or 8! string..incredible technique..previte and fowlkes perfect foils…nobody steppin on no one

a highpoint for charlie

cheers