Offbeat Magazine declares, “These three musicians are deeply connected to the roots of New Orleans music while…never shying away from taking the music in new directions… the focus is on making music as an ensemble, gracefully weaving textures over everchanging dynamics that displays a musical maturity far beyond the band’s years.”
The Bridge Trio is collectively-led by the drummer Joe Dyson Jr, the bassist Max Moran and the pianist Conun Pappas, Jr. The three musicians met in New Orleans, where they were all raised, and began working together while they were students at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). It wasn’t long before the leading artists in their city started taking note. Before they were old enough to attend most clubs without supervision, Alvin Batiste granted the band its first performing opportunities at New Orleans’ Snug Harbor. Donald Harrison took the trio out of the country as his backing band before they began their first days of college, and they continue to work with him to this day. The trio’s members have also worked on stage and/or in the studio with the likes of Herlin Riley, Chico Hamilton, Victor Goines, Sean Jones and Delfeayo Marsalis, to name a few.
In 2012, the trio self released an eponymous debut album, which Offbeat describes as “a modern-jazz gem that spotlights a diverse range of original material played with soul, dynamism and musical sensibility.” It features original music by all three members along with special guest appearances from saxophonists Donald Harrison and vocalist Davell Crawford.
Following their eponymous debut album in 2012, The Bridge Trio embarks further on the journey of progression, creation, and musical truth. Imbued with contemporary swing, blues, and funk, they present a listening experience of great variety through their original compositions. The album not only embodies the lineage of New Orleans with new sounds of the modern landscape, but it also honors some of their great predecessors, Donald Harrison, Alvin Batiste, James Black, and etc in melodic content.
On the surface, "The Search: Departure," serves as a sensational listening experience, but with greater depth one will find music infused with a wide dynamics and rich copious detail.
Album available here: http://apple.co/1zEKuyz