Wolfgang Muthspiel - Driftwood (2014)

Sublime guitar trio date recorded in May 2013, led by Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel.  Bookended by tributes to two formative influences, Joseph (Zawinul) and Bossa For Michael Brecker, all the material is Muthspiel's other than the group-composed title track.  It's a highly enjoyable and varied set of eight tracks in a trim 41 minutes, often prioritising texture and ambience.  Dazzling runs of notes share the space with plenty of breathing room, Larry Grenadier undepins it with both rock solid basslines and melancholy bowing, and Brian Blade on drums keeps structure and momentum to this great set of impressionistic pieces.

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Previously posted at SGTG:

Travel Guide (with Ralph Towner & Slava Grigoryan)

Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Slava Grigoryan - Travel Guide (2013)

Played this album daily for months when it came out, soundtracking that whole autumn and winter of 2013-4 with its gorgeous guitar trio sound, so it's been well due a fresh rediscovery by me and a posting here.  Ralph Towner had already made a trio album in 2008 with Austrian Muthspiel and Armenian-Australian Grigoryan as MGT, which I really ought to have picked up ages ago, but keep getting distracted by other things.  Anyway, here's their ECM debut, recorded in Lugano in August 2012.

Half the tracks are composed by Towner and half by Muthspiel, and all are beautiful interminglings of the latter's smooth, fluid electric tone and the various acoustics of the other two guitarists.  My absolute favourites are Amarone Trio and the slowly unfolding opener The Henrysons, but the whole album is absolutely beautiful stuff.  Highest recommendation.

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