CD Robert Mitchell 3IO – The Embrace

The Embrace is the 2011 sophomore release from the Robert Mitchell 3io, showcasing a piano trio with over a decade of shared history. Featuring pianist Robert Mitchell, bassist Tom Mason, and drummer Richard Spaven (both veterans of Mitchell’s Panacea ensemble), the album highlights a "highly advanced cohesion" and a command over both avant-garde and mainstream jazz vocabularies.

The 3io blends acoustic jazz with the precision of hip-hop and loop-led culture. Mitchell’s inventive piano lyricism is anchored by Spaven’s contemporary grooves and Mason’s melodic double bass. The album is particularly noted for Mitchell’s technical prowess, including his exploration of reversing traditional hand roles at the keyboard.

• Genre-Defying Covers: A pensive yet rousing interpretation of Aphex Twin’s "Alberto Balsam" and 4hero’s "Third Stream."
• Original Compositions: The title track, "The Embrace," a poignant tribute to Mitchell’s father incorporating African rhythmic patterns, and the muscular "A Desperate Man."
• Diverse Influences: Tracks range from the house-inflected pulses of "Cumulus" to a beautiful, hymnal arrangement of Robert Schumann’s "Traumeri."
• Musicianship: Impeccable interplay between three masters of their craft, resulting in a sound that is both "stark and solid."

Released on 3IO Records, this album is a essential listen for fans of contemporary piano trios that push the boundaries of rhythmic complexity and melodic beauty.