“As you can tell from the album title, Dave Bass’ “Trio Nuevo Vol 3”, is the third installment with his long-standing trio with Tyler Miles on bass and Steve Helfand on drums. As usual, Dave’s music on here covers many styles, hard bop, classical, pop, Monk and a blend of Brazilian and Cuban rhythms. Dave sticks with Tyler and Steve because they too can cover many genres. Dave says, “I want to play with musicians who are versatile in a variety of styles and can truly inhabit those styles, not just dabble in them”. After many years together, the telepathy between the musicians is obvious as they often move together with one mind. Of course, most solos go to Dave, but Tyler is also given solos on almost every tune and drummer Steve is ‘given some’ here and there as well. Helfand’s playing is unique and subtle. Instead of the usual cymbal and snare beats, Steve seems to favor the toms and the snare drum with the metal snare turned off. The effect is almost like a hand drummer as opposed to a cliché trap set.
There are plenty of energetic numbers on here, album opener, “Neither Have I Wings” features some choppy rhythms influenced by Brazilian baion. For the Monk tune, they went with the lesser known “Work,” which allows Dave to show his skill in interpretating the Thelonious approach to piano.
“Far and Wee” is a free form jam that sounds like an atonal blues, and “Lost Mambo” uses Juan Tizol’s “Perdido” as a jumping off point. Classics like Bach’s E minor toccata and Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” are improvised on. The Bach piece almost takes on a bluesy nature, and the complex modulating harmonies of “Swan Lake” make for some interesting improvs.
There is also some unique ballad material. This may be the first jazz version of “Try a Little Tenderness,” the tune that Otis Redding made famous. Even Disney makes an appearance with “When You Wish Upon a Star.” There are plenty more tracks, including a Chick Corea cover that melds with an original gospel tune. It’s the variety of material that makes this album interesting, having a fresh approach on every track keeps things from getting kind of ’samey’ boring, yet this smorgasbord effect never sounds gratuitous or forced. These guys really dig all of these different styles and are very much right at home with all of them.”
-John Sanders (Jazz Music Archives)