Review of 'Lanky' by the Trachy/Lacy Collective

Lanky, the debut album from the Trachy/Lacy Collective, is a solid, earnest CD. The group balances traditional styles with modern influences, combining them with nuance and restraint.

The disc opens with “Bend,” a brisk and simple tune with a swing feel and a touch of mixed meter. Solos by pianist David Caldwell-Mason and saxophonist Seth Trachy spring through the form, and drummer Russell Lacy offers a spirited coda with a cohesive improvisation. The piece serves as a telling introduction to the Lanky, whose likable tracks are generally either winsome or wistful, and feature apt and sensitive playing.

“Carmen’s Blues,” a trudging minor blues, is one of the album’s more traditional forays. The direction of Trachy’s solo is somewhat unclear as he juggles lyrical playing with a more harmonically adventurous and intervallic approach. Lacy hints at a driving shuffle before lapsing into a 6/8 Afro-Cuban feel onto which Caldwell-Mason settles easily, as a sweeping modal section temporarily replaces the piece’s blues structure.

“Round One” is a straight groove that is subtly reminiscent of late 1960s Blue Note recordings. Bassist Edward Perez’ solo is the highlight, giving a modern twist to the R&B backdrop.

The group sounds most comfortable on tunes like “The G.G.,” a melancholy piece that tempers its pop-influenced progression with odd time signatures and pleasingly unpredictable melodic phrases. “5eth” is similar with its rhythmic experimentation, although it explores a darker mood, making use of a biting backbeat and a staggered bass line over which Trachy plays a haunting melody.

The solos by Caldwell-Mason and Trachy on these tunes, and others of a more contemporary nature, blossom naturally from simple and pointed opening gestures. It is especially evident that they know not only exactly what they mean but also exactly how to say it. The best moments on Lanky are a result of this kind of clarity, which, if perfected and exploited in future projects, could distinguish The Trachy/Lacy Collective as an authority in its field.

Release Date:

September 27, 2008

Personnel:

• Seth Trachy – Tenor Saxophone
• Russell Lacy – Drums
• David Caldwell-Mason – Piano
• Edward Perez - Bass

Track List:

1. Bend
2. The G.G.
3. Carmen’s Blues
4. Drops
5. 5eth
6. Round One
7. No Regrets
8. Guten Tag