The Brush Lopez Trio Release a Stunning Debut CD

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The Brush Lopez Trio Release a Stunning Debut CD

By Robert E. Martin

Since 1985 the musicians comprising the Brush/Lopez Trio have carefully cultivated and nurtured a form of popular Jazz music that is as smooth as the velvet memory of a distant moonlit night.

Consisting of pianist & vocalist Mike Brush, guitarist Ron Lopez, and drummer Mark Dault over the years this trio of Saginaw talent have managed to become curators for an idiom of music dating back to the classy, refined, and passionate stylization of such legendary local Jazz pioneers as the late Jack Bruske, Jerry Holmes, and Felton Sparks, and in the process inherited a reputation for keeping the shimmering, fluid, and vibrant tones of this music alive for the ears of new generations to luxuriate within.

Finally, after nearly 18 years, the Brush/Lopez Trio has released their first CD of recordings entitled Live at White's Bar that truly does both the band and material they perform justice. Beautifully recorded by Jim Schmidtke and Eastside Mike of Michigan Digital Recording Services, this collection of seven jazz standards by composers such as George Gershwin, Mose Allison, and Gus Kahn, along with one original composition by Brush entitled Jack, readily conveys the immaculate timing and thoughtful interpretations of each musician, affording wonderful & fresh translations of timeless material.

After performing together off and on for nearly 25 years, the group has

noticed a subtle evolution in their style that obviously inspires these

recordings.  "It comes down to getting more comfortable with this style of

music," explains Brush. "Maybe back in the '80s I was learning more about

it."

Similarly, the interaction and chemistry each member feels with each other

is apparent within their collective respect.  "It's funny, because when I'm

playing with Matt Besey or outside of the Jazz idiom, there is a certain

type of energy you get right away," continues Mike. "But with Jazz the

energy is more subtle.  There's a solid groove going on and it's different

in the sense that when catching a groove, it grows incredibly smooth"

"And Mark is great at that. He's so very adaptable to a wide variety of

different styles and is sensitive to everything going on.  If we break out

of tempo and do something different, I don't have to give him a big signal,

he just hears it," continues Mike.

"In the case of Ron and myself, as he describes it, we work like a 3-handed

piano player. If my left hand is playing bass lines and I'm soloing with

the right, he comps the left hand like a piano player would do. And if Ron

takes a solo, I comp him. So we've worked out a system that works for the

trio."

"I think my main contribution to the trio is adding different styles,"

notes Ron. "Like with Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I played that version to

Mike over the phone. I'll hear something and introduce it to the group. "

"Basically, I'm a rock 'n roll three-chord player. Everything I do comes

from that. We're getting more comfortable playing the style that we do.

There are guys that have a million chops and do flash solos, whereas I find

myself playing fewer notes and making them count. I think that comes with

age. I'm trying to play less and play better."

As Mark Dault perceives his own contribution to the trio, he loves the

softer format. "I play primarily with brushes in this band, " explains

Mark. "That way I don't have to hold back so much."

"I enjoy this music because it grooves really hard and is challenging to

play. It's a study in restraint.  Actually, Mike described it best once

when he was trying to tell me what he wanted in a song.  He said that he

likens it to cooking a pot of soup when the lid is bubbling but not

overflowing.  You know you're 'cooking' as a group when that lid is

bubbling without spilling over onto your stove."

As an artist that has won a record number of Jazz awards at the annual

Review Music Awards, of all the music Mike performs, does he enjoy Jazz the

most?  "Yeah," he admits. "I like to play all different kinds of stuff, but

I'm definitely more comfortable with this."

The live recording experience has also inspired the group to get into the

studio and record more material of Mike's new original compositions.  "Now

that we've done the live recording, Ron wants to get into the studio and do

one where we have more control over it," notes Mike.

"I'm the rookie as far as recording," laughs Ron. "I never took it

seriously. But through the support that surfaced on this project I got

motivated.  I'm not a studio guy, but after this live recording project and

seeing how much work and countless hours Eastside Mike and Jim devoted made

me realize that I need to get into the studio and do something.  It isn't

just me but other people making you sound good. I realized that doing this

CD."

"When you start hearing yourself on a CD or on the radio you start

criticizing yourself more," reflects Ron. "It's almost like having a child

by someone and going, 'Wow - that's mine forever.'  It makes you more

serious. Before I just wanted to play, but now I have to rise to the

occasion. Before I was just cruising along."

"Listening to the recordings humbles me," states Ron. "You know what you

can do and aren't doing, so the next studio project is going to be a gem."

With so many of the 'elder statesman' of Jazz in our area either retiring

or passing on, does the group feel any form of responsibility as the

'torch-bearers' for this type of sound?

"I don't see myself on that level," comments the ever-humble Mike Brush.

"We don't kid ourselves. Those guys were innovators and around back when

something unique was being created. I wouldn't pretend to be on a par with

those guys. But the way things turn out, we're the last ones in town that

seem to be doing it."

"We didn't plan it that way," interjects Ron. "It's almost like we're

lucky. I hate to say this, but it's almost like there's no competition.

We've slaved over this live thing to make it sound right."

"What saddens me is that a lot of great musicians passed away with no

recordings," reflects Mike. "And you never know because at my age something

can happen in an instant and suddenly I'm not playing anymore. So in a way

I'm feeling the pressure to leave a document of as much material as I can.

I feel a need to get the music out, but my time gets so spread out doing

other projects."

The Brush/Lopez Trio Live at White's Bar CD is available at gigs as well as

local record shops such as Records & Tapes Galore. This is a great

recording.  Do yourself a favor and pick one up today.

The trio is also performing at Spencer's in the middle of May and the Bay

County Festival, as well as different festivals and their intermittent gigs

at White's Bar throughout the summer.

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