CD Naim Hobgood, Torff, Wertico: State Of The Union

1999

State of the Union

Laurence Hobgood - pian
Brian Q.Torff - bas
Paul Wertico - tobe, percutie

Recorded in the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Union Church in Hinsdale, Illinois, this aptly titled disc features a union of three incandescent talents; Laurence Hobgood - one of the most powerful and accomplished young pianists in American jazz; bassist Brian Torff - who was once summoned with George Shearing to perform specially for President Reagan at the White house; and Paul Wertico - the Pat Metheny Group drummer - a huge award winning talent.

[ AllMusic ]

Chicago Tribune

"In 1997, a remarkable new trio staffed by pianist Laurence Hobgood, bassist Brian Torff and drummer-percussionist Paul Wertico released a striking debut, Union. The shimmering textures and haunting lyricism of that CD signaled that a potentially important jazz trio had arrived and instantly stoked interest in a follow-up recording. To listeners who value this trio, and there are many, two years seemed like a long time between releases, but State Of The Union was well worth the wait. Here are three remarkably spontaneous improvisers unafraid to veer between simple diatonic melodies and provocative splashes of dissonance, between gently swinging rhythms and free-form, unmetered statements. The thrust of this recording, as with Union, is on translucent ensemble sound, delicately stated lyricism, an Impressionistic approach to color and an unusual degree of introspection and contemplation. With unmistakably original compositions (by each of the musicians), Hobgood/Torff/Wertico sounds like no other trio working today, and that alone is an impressive achievement."
Stereophile

"Union's State Of The Union, recorded live at the Steppenwolf Studio Theatre, has the kind of enormous dynamics you'd expect to achieve only from high-tech studio extravaganzas. You'd be wrong. Ken Christianson characterizes the sound of this hall as "lush and full, yet clear and precise." The trio conducts a grand tour of modern jazz outposts and whistle-stops in one continuous performance, sounding for all the world like the Bill Evans Trio on steroids (or, on the title tune, Cecil Taylor's wake-up call). This is due in part to pianist Laurence Hobgood's serene touch, warm voicings, and flexible rhythmic gait, the slightly larger-than-life dynamics of Brian Torff's Banchetti bass (an upright electric design), and drummer Paul Wertico's muscular command of pianissimo and the outer reaches of sound (as on his splashy dance of metal and skin on "Bekiduan"). On Hobgood's broad brush strokes in the folk song "Jacob's Ladder," the piano is not rendered where each register is delineated in a super distinct manner as with the John Lewis recording, but in a one-voice, organic sound as it might be perceived from a few rows back. It functions as an equal component of a trio sound (panned left-right across the stage from piano to drums, with the bass in the middle), as when he mirrors the trio's stately understated collective posture on "Where is Love?," or the giddy manner in which all three back into the feverish swing of "How About You" from an arrhythmic-atonal intro. And Wertico's masterful tuning of his bass drum, and a colorful mix of bell sounds, toms, and ritual rhythms (chants) on "Calling Song," make for a superb test of your speakers' dynamic range. All in all, Union's probing recital is a rich-sounding portrait of a band on an upward creative arc."
G21

"All right, folks. Be truthful. How many of you have heard of Union? Come on, don't be shy. Put those hands in the air. Just as I thought. Almost no one in the Powerssound audience is familiar with Union. There's a quick remedy for that. Just dash down to your favorite CD supplier and buy a copy of State of The Union (Naim Records). This is the second release from Union in the past year and a half, and it's a superb effort by the trio of Laurence Hobgood on piano, Brian Q. Torff at the bass and Paul Wertico on the drums. The idea behind Union is to explore new possibilities for jazz by the conventional piano trio. There will be moments when listening to this disc that you may wonder about what the group is attempting. Repeated listenings, however, will make the album one that may quickly climb onto your list of favorites. Union's players all have other gigs going. Hobgood works with Kurt Elling. That collaboration has resulted in multiple Grammy nominations. Torff works in the music department at Fairfield University, as well as with his band Thunderstick. Wertico has performed with the Pat Metheny Group. He also can be heard on another Naim release, Cats Cradle, which I will be reviewing soon. One of the added delights for State Of The Union is the work of recording engineer Ken Christianson, whose sound work is admirable. The recording is, according to the company, unedited, unmixed and untampered with in any way. And that makes for a joyous listening experience."
Chicago Tribune

"The follow-up to this band's brilliant debut of 1997 reaffirms its position as one of the most promising trios in jazz. Pianist Laurence Hobgood, bassist Brian Torff and drummer-percussionist Paul Wertico create shades and half-shades of sound that are otherwise uncharted in the jazz trio repertory. Their music - original yet accessible, melodically free flowing yet lucidly structured - could extend the parameters of trio jazz."
Music Direct 2000

"Maybe we're a little biased, but we think longtime Chicago pianist Laurence Hobgood and the Union trio will no longer be a secret after the release of their brilliant second album, State Of The Union. Although together for only a couple of years, Hobgood, bassist Brian Torff, and drummer Paul Wertico (from the Pat Metheny Group) play with the understanding and empathy of a band that has been together for decades, exploring new harmonic boundaries while always remaining engaging and accessible. A typical Naim sonic marvel as well - warm, vivid, and natural."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"The band has the sound of a Keith Jarrett group in its exploratory analyses of tunes." Four Stars!
DownBeat

"The album is well worth checking out." Four Stars!