To celebrate their tenth anniversary as a unit, pianist/composer Omer Klein, bassist Haggai Cohen-Milo, and drummer Amir Bresler threw themselves a birthday party, entitling it Life & Fire. With a setlist comprised of both repertoire staples and new material, the Frankfurt-based trio convened in a modest studio, invited friends to witness the sessions, and let rip. Klein favors the upbeat and optimistic, savoring the melodies and letting the swing be the thing – witness the joyful bop of “Song No. 2,” the brisk danceability of “Cantando,” the mutant tango of “Niggun,” and the frisky Latin choogle of “¾ Mantra.” Not everything is all smiles, of course, but that doesn’t mean frowns are common, either – sedate pieces like “Malchut,” “Spilt Milk,” and “One Step at a Time” feel more contemplative and introspective than melancholy. Regardless of presentation, though, each track emphasizes the melody, with improvisation and the threesome’s clearly telepathic interplay enhancing that spotlight, rather than pulling it. Accessible, relaxed, and striking in its melodic shine, Life & Fire sounds like far more fun than labor went into its creation.
