Chicago-based bassist Clark Sommers has released a new album with his Ba(SH) Trio, entitled Peninsula. The album features Sommers with saxophonist Geof Bradfield and drummer Dana Hall performing seven original compositions. Their unique instrumentation helps to create a new sound, Sommers says.
“This chord-less trio format presents many possibilities because of the absence of piano/guitar driven harmony. The bass acts as more of an immediate pivot for the harmony and is, therefore, more open-ended,” he explains. “I specifically wrote the music for those 2 personalities. I’ve been playing with them for over 20 years and they’re 2 of my closest friends and collaborators.”
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Peninsula” is a collection of original, modern
jazz music written and conceived of for these three musical personalities... Sommers, Hall and Bradfield have been playing for more than 20 years and they breathe as one entity. The music expands and contracts organically and pulls inspiration from Pharoah Sanders, Ornette Coleman, Fly, Henry Threadgill, Elew, Brian Eno, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Aaron Copland and Led Zeppelin. Ba(SH), the group name refers to the spectrum of dynamic, concentric circles in which the musicians relate to one another and the music.