Patrick Cascino – Follow the River

This is a piano trio album that doesn’t bother with the many fads and trends in this field.

In his original compositions, the leader displays a taste for melody and a penchant for danceable rhythms that have a timeless flavor. There is no harmonic sophistication or demonstrative virtuosity here, but rather a relaxed and meditative atmosphere or a pulsation full of vitality.

Each piece is a little musical gem expressing a lyricism of sensitivity devoid of demonstrative effects. It’s easy to be charmed by such freshness and sincerity, and the interaction between the three partners gives their interpretations a unique and highly convincing color.

The piano has a touch that is sometimes powerful, sometimes more subtle, and a clear phrasing, alternating between rich chords and tasty arpeggios. The double bass provides consistently relevant support and allows itself a few rare solos. As for the drums, they display a subtle and effective style that perfectly suits the playing of their partners.

This is music with no pretensions other than to delight listeners, and it succeeds in doing so through an approach in which the musicians’ pleasure in playing leads to active and joyful listening on the part of the audience.