The Crimson Jazz Trio was a jazz trio led by drummer Ian Wallace, formerly of King Crimson, who re-interpreted King Crimson's music.
History
The trio was conceived by Wallace, who recruited Tim Landers (bass) and Jody Nardone (piano) in 2004.[1] They recorded the album King Crimson Songbook, Volume One (Voiceprint) in 2005.[2] The album includes material from beyond Wallace's early 1970s tenure in King Crimson.[1]
Concert appearances in the spring of 2007 were scrapped due to Wallace's falling ill.[3] Prior to his death on February 22 of that year, the band finished recording a second album, King Crimson Songbook, Volume Two, with assistance from Jakko Jakszyk and Mel Collins, Wallace's colleagues in 21st Century Schizoid Band.[4][5] Collins is also a King Crimson alumnus and Jakszyk later joined King Crimson. The album was released on April 7, 2009, on Inner Knot Records.[6]
King Crimson founder Robert Fripp approved of the group, stating: "The CJ3 have respectfully and irreverently taken eight Crimson classics, repositioned them in the musical spectrum, and delivered their first songbook with superb musicianship in service to wit and invention".[7]