Straight To The Top
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
A trio consisting of Sarah Jane Hargis on flute/bass flute, Steve Haskin handling classical guitar and A.J. Montrose holding down bongos and hand percussion, Rio Trio reinvent classic songs while also fleshing out Haskin’s original tunes, and with plenty of esteemed classical, jazz and Brazilian sounds in attendance.
After the playful and cultured “Footprints” opens up the album, “Agua De Beber” finds a calming place to reside with intricate flute from Hargis while the lively percussion from Montrose certainly adds much to the equation.
Deeper into the listen, guitars become the focus of the classically influenced “Crystal Silence”, while “Look To The Sky” unfolds with cascading beauty amid flute acrobatics and strong rhythm. “My Little Boat”, one of the best tunes present, then flows with dynamic musicianship between the three with incredible melody and soprano sax from Tony Bray.
At the end, “Lucky Southern” showcases the fantastic prowess of Haskin in the upbeat setting, and “Wave” ends the listen adventurous and instantly memorable with Alex Coke’s contributions on bass flute.
An entirely instrumental listen that pulls in ideas from around the globe, Straight To The Top, while being largely rooted in Latin jazz, is ultimately a world music album like nothing you’ve heard before, and you’ll certainly want to hear it again.
Travels well with: Carol Albert- Stronger Now; Amber Weekes- Pure Imagination