“Lodder is both an improviser of originality and a musical thinker of erudition and depth….” The Guardian
Renowned pianist, composer and arranger Steve Lodder returns with 2 sorts of 3, a striking new double-trio album presenting two contrasting line-ups – one plugged, one unplugged. Released on Sleeve Records this December, it marks Lodder’s third solo release, following ’bout time 2 (2001) and …tied up with strings (2015).
Initially planned as two separate projects – one acoustic, one electronic – Lodder ultimately brought them together to create a single album that bridges both worlds. The result is twelve original compositions that balance lyricism and groove with Lodder’s signature curiosity for sound and form. On the plugged side, Lodder performs on Rhodes Mk8 electric piano with Dudley Phillips (electric and double bass, guitar) and Nic France (drums) – long-time collaborators from tours across Africa and Europe. Their intuitive chemistry gives the session an exploratory edge. For the unplugged trio, Lodder moves to Yamaha acoustic piano, joined by the grandson of his cousin Freddie Jensen (double bass) and Marius Rodrigues (drums). This new partnership finds space for subtler textures and rhythmic interplay, drawing on Brazilian influences and contemporary jazz phrasing.
2 sorts of 3 reflects a range of moods – from the jazz-samba pulse of ‘Sand Twixt Toes’ and Jarrett-inspired ‘Ridges and Slopes’, to the jazz fusion of ‘Ready the Lifeboats’ (a climate-change call to arms) and the South African tinged ‘Dip Blue Deep Green’.
The artwork, created by Lodder’s son Louis, offers a playful visual companion to the music, drawing on coastal imagery and modern art influences to echo the album’s mix of humour and creativity.
Lodder’s use of both acoustic piano and the newly developed Rhodes Mk8 highlights two facets of his music, bringing together the lyrical and the experimental in equal measure. The result is a compelling addition to his catalogue, full of warmth and imagination.
