Triology: The Slow Road

CELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED APRIL 11, 2025)

Ever wonder what it would have sounded like if Coleman Hawkins sat in with the Nat King Cole Trio? The newest release from Vancouver-based Triology, with special guest Scott Hamilton, might give you a good idea! Formed by pianist Miles Black, guitarist Bill Coon and bassist Jodi Proznick, Triology explores the musical sensibilities first introduced by the pianoless trios of Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal. Since the late 1970s, Scott Hamilton’s big warm tenor heralded in a rebirth of mainstream jazz. So, it is not surprising that Cellar Music owner Cory Weeds decided to combine Triology with Hamilton for The Slow Road, a refreshing session of unadulterated standards and originals. The cohesiveness of the trio, which has been playing together since 2008, provides the perfect cushion upon which Hamilton plies his craft on standards such as Luiz Bonfa’s “Luiza,” Charlie Barnet’s “Pompton Turnpike,” Randy Weston’s “Hi-Fly,” Ralph Rainger’s “Thanks for the Memories,” and Jimmy Van Heusen’s “I Thought About You.” Hamilton takes a break on Charlie Parker’s “Moose the Mooche,” allowing Triology to shine much like they did on their debut release in 2014. Each member of Triology also contributed originals to The Slow Road. Proznick’s “Luna,” kicks off the session with a floating jazz waltz based on “How High the Moon.” Coon wrote the title track “The Slow Road,” a swinging blues with Coon channeling guitarist Freddie Green. Black contributed “Blues for Franz,” a classic 12-bar blues on which everyone gets to take a chorus or two. Whether they are playing bossas, ballads or blues, the members of Triology and Scott Hamilton do it with charm, grace and an overriding sense of swing, sophistication and style on The Slow Road.

BOTTOM LINE: Combining the musical counterpoint of Triology (Miles Black on piano, Jodi Proznick on bass and Bill Coons on guitar) with the full-bodied sound of tenor player Scott Hamilton not only made sense for Cellar Music owner Cory Weeds, it made for a session that recaptures the sound of jazz from an era in which swing, sophistication and style dominated. You can experience it all on The Long Road.