Borderlands Trio, the collective effort of bassist Stephan Crump, pianist Kris Davis and drummer Eric McPherson, has luck on its side. Less than a year old, its chemistry is unusually deep. And while I don’t often use the term, it’s also a band that boasts a bit of magic.
The album title Asteroida is the Latin term for starfish – a creature that can regenerate parts of itself whenever need be. That idea resonates with Crump because of the trio’s abi- lity to steadily develop new landscapes, and the Stephan Crump reminds that the word starfish conjures notions of both the ocean and outer space. ‘Gravity, magnetism, con- stellations, nature. With this band, we’re always expanding and contracting, recontextualizing what’s around us and heading for the instantly inevitable.’
Ultimately Asteroidea is a treatise on immediacy and a deep dive into the spectrum of responses made by any one gesture. Pay close attention. Its grooves are always mor- phing, its drama boasts moments of whimsy, and its creators are just getting started. (Jim Macnie, from the liner notes)
Stephan Crump: Acoustic Bass
Kris Davis: Piano
Eric McPherson: Drums
Music by Eric McPherson, Kris Davis and Stephan Crump. Recorded December 18, 2016, at The Samurai Hotel, Queens, NY by David Stoller. Mixed by Stephan Crump at The Butler Plaza, Brooklyn, NY. Mastered by Liberty Ellman at 4D Studios, Brooklyn, NY. Cover art and graphic design: Jonas Schoder. Liner notes: Jim Macnie. Photo: Jimmy Katz. Produced by Kris Davis, Stephan Crump, Eric McPherson and Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt. Published by Intakt Records.
Verisimilitude was at the top of my "Top Ten Records of 2017".
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Can't wait for the vinyl version to arrive. Hebeloma Crustuliniforme
This music has everything I need: acoustic instruments, a slow build, layers of atypical harmonies and rhythms being added each pass through, subtle melodies and combinations. Excellent work! Little James
On this sprawling double LP, the South African drummer leads his band through a series of mournful and vibrantly melodic spiritual jazz compositions. Bandcamp Album of the Day Jul 6, 2020
Amazing and immersive. Constructed with such forward motion I forgot where I was and nearly got run over by traffic. Doesn’t get better than that. EmmaH