Salt Catchers, the new album by British saxophonist Andy Sheppard, has a gentle feel to it. He recorded it as a trio with Italian pianist Rita Marcotulli and French bassist Michel Benita.

A trio of piano, bass and saxophone. It’s simple. And simply appealing. Partly because of this seemingly unwritten law: drums are rhythm. Rhythm is pulse. Pulse is speed. And off we go. As soon as the drums are absent, the same fascinating observation can be made time and again: jazz without drums uncovers the possibilities of atmosphere and melodiousness. As if a membranophone were its stumbling block. Be that as it may.

Salt Catchers is unquestionably melodious. Delicate. Subtly harmonious. Gentle. Attentive. The list of possible attributes that could be used to describe the sonic experience of Salt Catchers is extensive, apt – and unnecessary. For music always speaks for itself. Especially when old friends play together.

Sheppard explains that he shares a long history with Marcotulli and Benita, but that they had not yet recorded together. Now, it seems, the time was right, and the result is well worth listening to. Not only because top-class craftsmen are at work here. The three are also top-class musicians who seem to complement one another almost naturally.

The interplay during the bass solo in Lawns, the little playful touches from the piano in Salt Catchers, the shared drive in the same piece, the inclusive melodiousness of Encantos – each of the nine tracks has its own distinctive character and contributes just as much to the album’s musical charm as it does to its quality.

The recording quality is also impressive. Generally speaking, one can expect ‘Akusik +’ sound quality from ECM. And so, too, has the Sheppard, Marcotulli, Benita trio been masterfully captured by sound engineer Stefano Amerio at the Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in Lugano, Switzerland.

The acoustic instruments sound completely authentic and tangible. Positioned at the front of the listening space, the grand piano moves diagonally across the stage from the rear right to the front left. The saxophone is mostly centred, whilst the bass is placed slightly to the right in the background. During solo passages, the respective instruments move more towards the centre, though the piano occasionally makes an acrobatic leap into the right channel. This is surprising, but it feels acoustically coherent.

Of the nine tracks on his album Salt Catchers, Andy Sheppard wrote eight himself; only Lawns was penned by Carla Bley. After just over 52 minutes, the jazz delight comes to an end. The verdict?

It was lovely! (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Andy Sheppard, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Rita Marcotulli, piano
Michel Benita, double bass