24/07/2026
Long post alert!
A few thoughts on the Pete Roth Trio...
We started with a run of eight gigs between September and December 2024 at Growlers & Cans in Guildford. That was only about 22 months ago. Before that, we'd played three concerts with Mike still on upright bass, but in the grand scheme of things this trio is still very young. And yet, in that relatively short space of time, it has taken on a life of its own.
Bill brings an almost insatiable thirst for new ideas. He has this constant desire to break conventions, to find the cliff edge and then walk along it without any regard for the danger of falling. It is inspiring to be around. The music demands that all three of us arrive in the same humble place, giving it our full attention, generosity and presence.
Over the last 22 months we've played largely the same 14 tunes, but I genuinely don't think we've ever played the same version twice. As someone who lives for improvisation, I can't imagine a more exciting place to be. There is no judgement, no post gig death analysis, just constant listening, sharing and trust. There is nowhere to hide, but strangely that's what makes it feel so free.
When we connect with an audience, we feel it immediately. At that point they stop being spectators and become part of the performance itself, as essential as the lead connecting the guitar to the amplifier or the drumstick striking the drum.
The only way we could really capture that was to make a live album. And for those who are curious, we've included a DVD featuring some of the performances we filmed along the way.
Since those first few gigs we've been fortunate enough to tour a fair bit of the world, meeting extraordinary people wherever we've gone. We know we can't come to everyone's front door, so we hope this album and DVD are, in some small way, a chance to bring a little of what we've experienced to those who haven't yet been able to see us live.
I'm incredibly proud of this trio. Musically and personally it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The privilege and challenge of sharing the stage with two such creative human beings is far beyond anything I could have imagined 22 months ago.
Love to you all.
Onwards...
Photo by Fukumasa Billboard Live Tokyo
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