Jazztrail.net

Austrian young drummer/composer Max Plattner has a knack for song structures that involve enjoyable melodies, improvisation and groove. For his debut album, II, he opted for the typical saxophone-bass-drums format, playing alongside a pair of Italian musicians. “Cooking” makes for an enticing opening, featuring Lorenzo Sighel’s clear-cut sax phrasing over a round, thick and loud propulsive rhythmic drive. Bass player Marco Stein delivers a chant-like improv here, whereas on “Love Song” he opts for an ambient chordal-like work offset by Plattner’s chunky slams. “Chopped Up” is a danceable rave-up with claps and vocals; “Il Nano Masticatore” channels the energy into Charlie Parker’s artistry with playful bop melodies, fragmented rhythms and a firmly locked swing; “Rips Are Cage of Emotions” finds a balance between nontoxic punk rock and sensitive post-bop; “Welcome to Sodoma & Gomorrah” has a more experimental vibe with traces of free bop; while the ebb and flow of “Neuschee” is rippled by sprightly brushwork, a caravan-like groove and mood variations that include both meditative and rock-infused passages. The results are consistently pleasant to listen to, with the trio showing off a confident sense of identity.

Filipe Freitas – August 13th, 2020