PAPATAMUS REDUX

SORI-E-NAITE MUSIC CO. (RELEASED AUGUST 28, 2026)

I typically review music that comes my way from artists, record companies and publicists, but every so often I come across a release that deserves wider attention. Bassist Eunjung Jo’s Goodbye Blackbird is such a recording. Although this is her third session as a leader, I was totally unfamiliar with this Korean bassist, now living in New York City. I was, however, well familiar with pianist Jeb Patton from his early days with the Heath Brothers, as well as drummer Dennis Mackeral from his recordings with the Count Basie Band, the Carla Bley Big Band and others. The three come together on Goodbye Blackbird for a deceptively straightforward set of tunes, each with its own little surprises. Take the opening number, “Snow White,” a well-constructed reharmonization of Victor Young’s “When I Fall in Love,” on which Patton explores all the nooks and crannies of this classic. The title track takes a similarly inventive approach to “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Rather than stating the melody outright, the trio evokes the tune through its harmonic and melodic implications, allowing the listener to recognize it without being spoon-fed the familiar theme. A similar concept is employed on “Donna Lia,” a contrafact based on Charlie Parker’s “Donna Lee.” Here, the spotlight turns to Mackeral, whose powerful playing gives the performance its energy. Parker’s “Quasimodo” receives a more straightforward treatment, with Jo and Patton stating the intricate melody in unison while Mackeral provides a meticulous accompaniment on brushes. The standards are handled with equal imagination. “The End of a Love Affair” becomes an elegant jazz waltz, while “Just Friends” is transformed into the tender ballad its should be, bringing out the emotional nature of the song’s lyrics. On “3 Blues,” the trio settles into a twelve-bar blues framework, giving each musician an opportunity to stretch out over several choruses. Whether she is providing the foundation for the trio or stepping forward as a soloist, Jo’s playing is strong and melodic, never giving any indication that she is the leader of this date. With excellent musicianship, thoughtful arrangements and enough surprises to keep the familiar repertoire fresh, Goodbye Blackbird deserves to be heard by anyone interested in a fresh approach to the classic jazz trio.

BOTTOM LINE: Eunjung Jo may be the leader of Goodbye Blackbird, but she wisely avoids making the album a showcase for herself. Her melodic bass playing is seamlessly integrated with Jeb Patton’s explorations on piano work and Dennis Mackeral’s solid drumming. The result is an engaging and consistently musical trio recording with pleasant surprises along the way.