WE THREE - A NEW COMBINATION OF OLD FRIENDS

 

Adam Nussbaum writes:

 

    I’ve been very blessed in music with many great experiences. This new trio, which has so many connections to the past, is one of them. 

    As a young drummer, I was very fortunate to be able to sit in with Dave and his first group, Lookout Farm in the fall of 1976. This established our relationship and I eventually became a member of his quintet which included Terumasa Hino, John Scofield and Ron McClure during the years 1978-1981. This was an incredible learning opportunity for me. What could be better than being thrown into deep water, challenged every night? Through this group I ended up being involved in a trio with John Scofield and Steve Swallow, both of who had worked together with Gary Burton. Again, this was another very wonderful playing situation. 

    Over the years, we’ve all been involved with each other in different musical settings. Through this time together we’ve developed a feeling of camaraderie that comes from a history of playing and being together. WE 3 stems directly from Swallow and I thinking about who would be fun for us to play with at this time. I suggested that Dave would be a worthy comrade. 

    My love and respect for Dave and Steve runs deep. They are great artists and for me, dear friends as well. They’ve forever impacted my life on many levels. 

 

 

David Liebman writes:

 

    As Adam alludes to, the connections between the members of We Three run deep. Steve was the first heavyweight bass player I worked with during 1969 in a group featuring Chick Corea, lead by drummer Pete LaRoca. This was my initiation into a night to night situation with great players. Steve joined me in my first organized music with drummer Bob Moses, known as the Open Sky Trio in the early 1970s. He was a mentor, became a friend and associate and thankfully I was included on his debut recording as a leader on a classic ECM release, “Home.” The connections are long and deep within the group. But most of all, the way Adam and Steve play together defines the word “supportive”. The comfort zone they produce is unbelievable. We hope you enjoy this recording.

 

 

Steve Swallow writes:

 

   As Adam and Dave have written above, the three of us share a significant history.  And I think it’s not too great a stretch to extend our shared experience back even further.  We three grew into jazz as kids, listening to the same players, learning the same lessons from the same masters.  Each of us discovered jazz for himself, in an American culture permeated by pop music.  Each of us was the odd kid on his block, and engaged in the same process of finding the music he loved, in hospitable record stores and on late night radio.  

   Our paths were bound to intersect as we made ever more decisive steps toward a life in jazz.  In our formative years, there was practically no choice but to head for New York City to search out our peers.  Inevitably, we found each other there.  It’s taken a few decades for us to arrive at this recording; perhaps you’ll hear the comfort and pleasure we’ve found playing together, after all those years.