Trio M is composed of bassist extraordinaire Mark Dresser, Bay Area pianist Myra Melford, and New York-based drummer Matt Wilson.
“Myra and I both moved independently from New York to California in 2004 to teach at different UCs, Berkeley and UCSD,” says Dresser. “We had done a few duo gigs and loved it but we both wanted to play with drums and you can't get any better than Matt Wilson. Trio M began in 2006 and played our very first concert at the Athenaeum.” The following year, the group released their debut full-length Big Picture, on the Cryptogramophone label.
Melford and Dresser have been exploring the world of Telematic-Performances for several years now, and their hook-up is approaching the telepathic. Wilson is one of the most creative and swinging drummers on the East Coast, and together, the trio manages to nail the traditional expectations while shattering the boundaries of convention.
Melford’s stylistic oeuvre spans the wide arc of pure lyricism to knotty cluster pounding and prepared-piano explorations. The New York Times referred to Wilson as “easily one of the best drummers of his generation.” And Dresser himself has codified an entire language of highly personal innovations on the instrument.
“Playing with Matt and Myra is very special,” says Dresser, “The music travels in many directions as we all contribute compositions. The trio functions without the typical hierarchy. As musicians and people, they’re both highly inventive, ambitious, fun, warm-hearted and deep. I feel I can completely be myself with them. The piano trio is such a known entity and just by being ourselves we’ve found a new take on the tradition.”
Their full-length the Guest House, recorded for the longstanding German label Enja, was released in late 2011.