François Carrier Trio+1 - Entrance 3

Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz

Venerable Canadian saxophonist Francois Carrier steers his trio and celebrated Swedish pianist Bobo Stenson into many circuitous routes during this set recorded at the 2002 Vancouver Jazz Festival. The musicians instill profundity into this democratic set, where the instrumentation is mixed with a horizontal plane approach. Here, Carrier's spirited attack is fused with grace, power and lyrically resplendent voicings, amid ventures into the freer realm.

The band's budding passages signify a consortium of slants, comprising investigative techniques and a sense of urgency, often spanning numerous jazz stylizations. "Entrance 3," offers a compelling glimpse of the band's diversity. With highs and lows, the soloists exude contemplative sentiment while also regenerating story lines along the way.

Carrier and Stenson execute tantalizing phrasings via melodic overtures that skirt a given melody line. Contrasts and detours are in abundance as the saxophonist eventually zooms toward the cosmos with stimulating subplots and ominously crafted choruses, effectuated by Pierre Cote's booming ostinato bass lines for the finale. No filler material anywhere to be found throughout this energized live performance.