Stir Q&A: Triology pianist Miles Black talks jazz trios, desert-island music, and the Zen state
In a concert at the Anvil Centre, the three artists share what they call a “Close Your Eyes Jazz” connection
Triology’s Miles Black, Jodi Proznick, and Bill Coons revisit the magic of Oscar Peterson and Nat King Cole’s classic jazz trios.
Triology performs at the Anvil Centre as part of Shine Bright New West on December 29
WHEN IT COMES TO JAZZ, good things really do come in threes.
Local pianist Miles Black, bassist Jodi Proznick, and guitarist Bill Coon all have received accolades separately in the jazz world. Now comes a chance to see them join forces in Triology, devoted to the great early jazz trios of legends Nat King Cole and Oscar Peterson.
The concert at the Anvil Centre features new arrangements of those icons’ retro jazz standards as well as original work by the musicians themselves.
Stir spoke to jazz piano master Black before the show. The Vancouver musician is a celebrated and prolific composer, as well as an arranger, produceer, composer, session musician, guitarist, vocalist, bassist, music therapist, instructor, and musical-theatre director. Jazz fans have seen him move between many amazing local jazz ensembles, but Stir talked to him about the magic these three players find together, and more.
From quartets to big bands, you’ve performed in a lot of ensembles, but what is it that draws you to the idea of a stripped-down jazz trio?
”With a smaller group creative decisions can be made much more spontaneously. Also, economically speaking, presenting a trio is very attractive for music presenters. Logistically, it’s much easier to organize. Triology is capable of producing a very full sound so we don’t really miss having drums.”
What brought you three together, and what do you share in common in your approach to improvisation and jazz?
”About 12 years ago I was asked to present a trio for a tribute to the late, great Canadian pianist and composer Oscar Peterson. There were three trios performing that eve, and I decided to model my group after the original OP trio, which was itself modelled after the Nat Cole Trio, a hero of Oscar’s. This formation is guitar, bass and piano. We had all performed together many times in the past and shared a common feel for jazz music. Bill and Jodi are very easy and fun to work with and open to possibilities within the music. On a more selfish note, I am learning to play guitar and upright bass so performing with them becomes a music lesson for me!”
This trio was modelled after old-school trios like Nat King Cole’s and Oscar Peterson’s. What’s your desert-island classic jazz-trio disc?
“For me, it’s [Peterson’s] ‘Night Train’. Such a vibe on that album.”
You’re well known as an arranger—have you done most of the arranging of jazz standards for this concert, and is there anything sacrosanct when you’re reimagining a classic?
”When Triology began we were all contributing arranged charts. My charts were especially onerous as I was trying to mimic the complex arrangements of Oscars trio. Some of them were eight to 10 pages long! Eventually we switched to a much less formal set up, where we make up the arrangements on the spot. We also take turns picking a tune to play without informing the other musicians. We call this ‘Close Your Eyes Jazz’. As far as what is sacrosanct, we try to honour the melodies, but have been known to make some pretty interesting harmonic choices.”
Okay, what’s the secret sauce for taking a killer piano solo? Do you get really swept away in the moment or is it more structured than that?
”For me to play really effectively, I need to achieve some sort of Zen state. I find that if I listen very carefully to what the other musicians are doing other than what I’m doing I play much better."
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