Storms/Nocturnes Trio - Rising Tide (2003)

The second recording by Tim Garland's Storms/Nocturnes Trio is a superb studio session of chamber jazz. The leader, who has great chops on several reed instruments, is once again joined by pianist Geoff Keezer and vibraphonist Joe Locke, who also plays marimba. Garland wrote and arranged seven of the ten selections. The influence of Chick Corea is obvious in the catchy post-bop "After Dark," a feature for his dancing tenor sax. The haunting ballad "A Brother's Gift" showcases Garland on soprano sax. His tense "Sonata" adds a string quartet, as does the soprano improvisation "Fantasy." "But You Were Gone" is a heartfelt tribute written honoring saxophonist Bob Berg, who died in a traffic accident around the time of the recording session. Locke's upbeat original "Dance Me Delirious" is a challenging work that the musicians devour whole, with Garland on bass clarinet. Keezer's piano initially sounds deliberately distant (probably due to the engineer's increase of gain) in his lovely ballad "Honu," while his other contribution, "Shelter," conveys a sense of mourning. All in all, this intricate music by three talented musicians will easily stand the test of time.