Blue Note

Fly Guys

Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard Bring Latest Trio to the Outpost

This season's Monday Night Jazz Series will culminate in what promises to be a superb finale performance by one of the finest trios in contemporary jazz. Calling themselves Fly, the collective includes saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, all of who have impressive pedigrees.

Turner's recording career as a leader stretches back to Yam Yam, his 1995 debut, and four later albums for Warner Brothers. Grenadier has played with Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau to name a few, while Ballard has served alongside Chick Corea, Danili Perez, Guillermo Klein and Joshua Redman.

The formation of Fly can be credited to a 2000 Chick Corea recording project called Originations, on which Turner, Grenadier and Ballard all appeared. Four years later, Fly are touring in support of their debut album on the highly respected Savoy label.

“Fly is progressively bringing together many musical elements, traditions, histories and mysteries,” says Turner of the group's forward-thinking sound. “Multiplicity is presented under an unassuming hat,” he continues. “In other words, we are working toward saying it all without saying it all, expressing complexity [through] simplicity. Musically speaking, we are creating songs that can be heard on a number of levels from a variety of different viewpoints.”

Presumably, a live translation of Turner's analysis will be given tonight at the Oupost at what could very well turn out to be the most important jazz concert in Albuquerque this year.