Mercury- Alister Spence Trio- 2006

IJust released, Mercury is the trios third CD, and best yet!
The thirteen tracks find the band delving even more deeply into their exciting and highly original musical world... here is what The Sydney Morning Herald says....

ALISTER SPENCE TRIO
Mercury (Rufus)
'Soothing atmospherics, flying swing, meaty grooves, free improvising and tranquil pools of lyricism all come and go, beautifully played and sensationally recorded.
The transformations are always guaranteed to draw you into their captivating musical worlds.’
John Shand - Sydney Morning Herald Nov 18/19 2006

Flux- Alister Spence Trio- 2003

This is the second distinctive and original CD from the trio. Released in Nov 2003 and following a National Tour in 2002, this CD shows a development in the sound of the band and its compositions. Once again there is variety in the nine original tracks presented, from the open swing three feel of the opening track Hiatus, the slowed down Cuban groove of Yo No Se Nada, to the mesmerising ballad Languid employing glockenspiel and samples, and the high energy release of Let it Ring. Also included here is Horace Tapscott's wonderful ballad Lullaby in Black.

'This is the sound of the hammer striking the nail right on the head, sweetly, every time' Shane Nichols, Financial Review, November 2003

'Beautiful. This disc is a big jump ahead. Spence's piano vocabulary is very distinctive, his playing very fine with rhythmic excitement and melodic beauty entwined. John Clare, Sydney Morning Herald, December 2003

Three is a Circle- Alister Spence Trio- 2000

This is the first trio CD, released in 2000 on Rufus Records, and in 2003 by the EarthSpirit label in Japan (a division of Roving Spirits).The eleven tunes are an eclectic mix of originals from the beautiful ballad There's a Change Coming and the darkly elegaic Black Wattle, to the jaunty opening track Clearing House and sparkling latin rhythms of On the Loop. Samples are used on tracks 6, 8 and 10.

'It would be no exaggeration to say he (Spence)...is fully rivalling the pianists who have brought about the present boom in piano trio music' Review of Three is a Circle, Swing Journal, Japan March 2003

Canticle- Clarion Fracture Zone with The Martenitsa Choir- 2002

This is the most recent release, on the Rufus label, from the internationally acclaimed contemporary jazz ensemble Clarion Fracture Zone. The band is co-led by Alister, the wonderful saxophonist Sandy Evans, and the equally talented Tony Gorman on saxophones and clarinet. Bassist Lloyd Swanton and drummer Toby Hall complete the band.

This CD is a suite of original pieces written, as a result of a commission from Eastside Uniting Church, on the theme of sexuality. The end result of working with the wonderful Martenitsa choir highlights even further the energy, originality and beauty of one of Australia's original music icons.

Other CDs by Clarion Fracture Zone and available on Rufus Records are; Blue Shift, Zones On Parade, What This Love Can Do and Less Stable Elements (out of print).

'A band of fascinating contrasts, who's special perspectives are an enrichment to the international jazz scene' A Schumacher, Germany

'That unique magic when improvising players are completely attuned to one another' John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald