Experimental Jazz Trio explorations by Phillips, Pabian & Mulvenna.
Phillips | Pabian | Mulvenna
"Fading Light"
Released: April 2017 CD + Digital
The fourth release from Chicago-based trio featuring Krzysztof Pabian on double bass, Dan Phillips on guitar and Tim Mulvenna on drums.
This is the fourth release for this unique trio and the 20 plus year relationship between these outstanding musicians is obviously apparent in the performance. This release also features Dan Phillips’ unique compositional style, but with a slightly more minimalist approach in some instances.
“Fading Light” marks the fourth release from Chicago-based trio Dan Phillips (guitar), Krzysztof Pabian (double bass), and Tim Mulvenna (drums)—longtime collaborators whose intuitive interplay and deep musical rapport shine throughout the recording.
Blending Phillips’ lyrical compositions with freely evolving improvisations, the trio explores a wide emotional and sonic range. Tracks like the title piece “Fading Light” and the evocative “Icy Fields” unfold as visual soundscapes, while “Schwag” and “Was Going So Well” showcase the group’s dynamic post-bop energy and rhythmic precision.
Pabian’s commanding arco work and melodic sensibility add distinctive texture and depth, particularly on “Ominous Thoughts,” while Mulvenna’s versatile drumming bridges pulse and color across the album’s varied moods. The closing track, “Up There,” offers a lyrical, memorable coda to a set that reflects both compositional craft and decades of shared improvisational language.
“Fading Light” is an album of lyrical forms, spontaneous textures, and intuitive ensemble dialogue—an elegant statement from a trio grounded in trust and musical curiosity.
Personnel
Dan Phillips – guitar
Krzysztof Pabian – bass
Tim Mulvenna – drums
Reviews
“The individual performances are brilliant all the way through. Phillips manages to create a unique guitar sound, which includes a lot of reverb and echo, quite different from most straightforward Jazz / Fusion guitar sounds used by other players. Although he plays quite densely there is enough space left to be able to hear the brilliant bass and drums parts, which are nothing short of virtuosity. Pabian builds a solid ground upon which the entire sound of the trio is based, playing often shoulder to shoulder with the guitar at the same level of complexity. His plucking sound is round and beautifully melodic and his arco work (which he sadly uses way too seldom) is superb. Mulvenna is a very busy drummer and yet he manages to stay at the same level of intensity with the trio members, ornamenting the tunes with his polyrhythmic, but perfectly timed drum parts.
Overall this is a brilliant Fusion album, which offers a unique musical concept and sound, something very rarely found these days. Guitar freaks, Fusion lovers and music connoisseurs in general should really enjoy this album in full, especially in view of the fact that it reaches a limited audience in today´s highly competitive and narrow minded music market and deserves to do much better. Highly recommended!”
“Pabian, a classically trained bassist, also holds a masters degree in jazz. His influence on this guitar trio cannot be emphasized enough. Utilizing a bow on Phillips’ composition “Ominous Thoughts,” the bassist’s solemn melody carries the elevated sensibilities of the music. He is also a precise timekeeper, as a bassist must be when the ensemble is a two string affair, plus a drummer.”
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