First released in 1956, Kenny Drew’s self-titled Kenny Drew Trio has long been one of those records that says more than its reputation suggests. Drew, who would later settle in Copenhagen and build a life in European jazz circles, is heard here in New York with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones, two of the most in-demand rhythm players of the time. The album is lean, direct, and rooted in the trio format’s essentials of interplay, clarity, and forward motion. As part of Craft Recordings – Original Jazz Classics series, Kenny Drew Trio is being reissued on 180-gram vinyl from lacquers cut from the original stereo tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
“Caravan” opens the set with Drew pushing the familiar Ellington theme into fast bop territory. His lines are sharp and economical, not flashy, while Chambers drives hard with a deep pulse, and Jones adds just enough rhythmic turbulence to keep it slightly unsettled. On “Come Rain or Come Shine,” Drew’s phrasing is unhurried and precise, letting the melody be heard before opening up into crisp chordal work. The trio handles Thelonious Monk’s “Ruby, My Dear” with care, with Drew smoothing some of the sharper corners but still maintaining the tune’s original character. The original composition “Weird-O” finds Drew at his most agile, building phrases that dart and resolve while Chambers and Jones hold down a tight rhythm.
The second side carries the same balance of restraint and momentum. “Taking a Chance on Love” is relaxed but tightly played, Chambers anchoring it with a steady walking line that lets Drew phrase freely on top. The classic “When You Wish Upon a Star” is handled with simplicity, the trio giving space to the melody without stretching it into sentimentality. “Blues for Nica” is the highlight of his original compositions, a mid-tempo blues where Drew builds measured choruses while Chambers and Jones lock into a sturdy, swinging groove. “It’s Only a Paper Moon” closes with lightness and clarity, finding Drew taking clean runs, Chambers steady, and Jones brushing the snare to add texture.
For years, this session has circulated quietly in the catalog, but the 2025 reissue gives it the presentation it deserves. Remastered from the original tapes and pressed on heavyweight vinyl, the sound is clear and full, with Chambers’ bass resonating more deeply than on earlier editions. Kenny Drew Trio isn’t about big gestures. It’s about three musicians meeting on common ground, listening closely, and delivering straight-ahead modern jazz with no excess. Nearly seventy years later, that clarity still feels fresh.
