Ches Smith Trio: The Bell
The Bell features drummer Ches Smith with pianist Craig Taborn and violist Mat Maneri. In June 2015 Smith, Taborn and Maneri recorded The Bell at Avatar Studios with Manfred Eicher as producer. Ches Smith’s first album as a leader for ECM follows appearances for the label with Tim Berne’s Snakeoil and with Robin Williamson. Ches has worked a very wide range of music in the course of his career, playing with musicians from Terry Riley to Wadada Leo Smith to Marc Ribot and his own groups have been informed by his far-reaching experience. His early biography included studies in composition with Pauline Oliveros and Alvin Curran and his taut writing for the trio on The Bell triggers inspired contributions from Taborn and Maneri, in an album which gradually builds in intensity.