Vijay Iyer Trio At Philadelphia Clef Club Of Jazz And Performing Arts

Vijay Iyer Trio
Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts
Philadelphia, PA
March 15, 2025

The new instantiation of the Vijay Iyer Trio is another powerhouse. Fresh off two nights at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., the band took to the stage in the performance space of Philadephia's Clef Club on the Avenue Of The Arts to a near-capacity audience. This historic and cavernous venue was the scene of an immersive, energizing musical experience not soon forgotten.

Iyer's complex and robust playing requires a rhythm section of strong personalities with bold voices. One could forgive some trepidation in following Iyer's cohorts from his previous two trios, but none was evident. Devon Gates (bass) and Jeremy Dutton (drums) were partners with Iyer in a continuous stream, at times torrent, of sound that flowed through the evening.

The program consisted primarily of pieces from Iyer's previous two releases: Uneasy (ECM, 2021) and Compassion (ECM, 2024). Dutton called the evening to order with a soft mallet meditation that introduced "Children Of Flint," after which, the energy ramped up. Apart from a brief intermission, the program morphed from one number to another with minimal or no breaks. Midway through the show, the trio downshifted slightly and eased into the steady beat of "Touba," a brilliant changeup of momentary relative relaxation. The evening concluded with "Kite" (dedicated to Palestinian writer and poet Refaat Alareer). The piece is from Iyer's new album Defiant Life (ECM, 2025), recorded with Wadada Leo Smith.

Iyer fluently shifted amongst melodic, rhythmic, free and percussive approaches, his pianistic skills on full display. Further evidence that his reputation as one of our premier jazz composers and pianists is well-deserved. Gates' bass provided the music with the requisite big, steady backbone. Her enjoyment when soloing was evident in her smiling and nodding and the way she almost danced with her instrument—all of which the audience rewarded enthusiastically. Dutton's ever-changing polyrhythms, subtle shifts and percussive embellishments seemed effortless, a testimony to his skills, and always attentive to the moves of his colleagues.

Dutton has performed frequently with Iyer since relocating to New York City from Houston in 2017. Gates was a teaching assistant for Iyer after entering Harvard in 2019. March 2024 found her onstage for his tribute to Andrew Hill. A concert in New York City's Bryant Park in August 2024 is the only documented public appearance by the trio before this three-night run in Washington and Philadelphia. They performed with empathy and synchronicity despite their short time together as a unit.

The venue contributed to the evening's experience and merits some parting words. The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts is much more than a nightclub. It nurtures young aspiring talent, providing instruction, practice space and recording facilities. The center previously contributed to launching the careers of, amongst others, Christian McBride, Jaleel Shaw, Johnathan Blake and Kurt Rosenwinkel. It is the ongoing legacy of the Musicians' Protective Union Local 274, formed in 1935 because black musicians were not allowed into Local Union 77. Shuttered in 1971, it was the last African-American musicians' union in the country. Steeped in history and visited by numerous legendary musicians, the Clef Club helps keep the music alive for another generation.

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