JAZZ
Keith Price
LacLu (Pukeko)
Winnipegger and guitarist Keith Price is currently teaching in the jazz faculty at the University of Auckland New Zealand. This EP is the debut of his trio called LacLu — a name well known in this area. With Price on guitar are two recent graduates of his program, Francesca Parussini on saxophone and Maximilian Crook on drums.
As with his earlier releases, Price displays a keen ear for mood and movement on this four-track release. Two of the four tracks are Winter / Fog / Morning Parts One and Two. The music is haunting while it is perfectly evocative of the title. As Winnipeggers we can all “see” that winter morning. The guitar drifts and swirls around sax or drum solos with a tangible sense of peace.
The third track is a complex and intense arrangement of Stella By Starlight that stretches the tune into fascinating and angular directions.
The fourth track is called Friends & Whānau. (Whānau is a Māori word to describe the basic extended family group involving several generations.) The music throughout displays a maturity and collective chemistry that is perhaps surprising as Parussini and Crook are both in their early 20s. Price’s leadership is the base without getting in the way of the excellent solos from the other members. As with many debuts, let’s hope for more releases from this trio. EPs also make (perhaps greedy) reviewers hungry for longer releases.
Price has been a terrific part of the local jazz scene and is now obviously fulfilling that role across the world. This is a truly fine “debut” from a mature and accomplished leader.
★★★★½ out of five stars
Stream: Winter / Fog / Morning Parts One and Two; Stella By Starlight
— Keith Black
