Harry Beckett - Images of Clarity (EvidencƎ, 1992)

Harry Beckett, trumpet, flugelhorn 
Didier Levallet, bass
Tony Marsh, drums

Recorded December 9 & 10, 1992

Studio A.I.D.*, Pernes les Fontaines, Fr.

Engineer: Gérard de Haro

Having read a positive review of Images of Clarity in the Penguin Guide to Jazz, I spent several years chasing it down. One mistake I made was to assume it was released on the Evidence label, not the French EvidencƎ label. Details matter. But my persistence paid off, and I enjoy my CD copy to this day. 

The trio of French bassist Didier Levallet, British drummer Tony Marsh, and Barbados-born Harry Becket (a UK resident since 1954) produce a remarkably constrained flow of sonic images mostly composed by Beckett. Levallet contributes two compositions, and the band covers Mal Waldron's "Warm Canto."

The spare instrumentation serves the trumpeter well. His fragile tone conveys a lot of emotion, and his compositions exploit the best attributes of the group. For instance, the opening title track begins with several bars of alternating solos for trumpet and drums. Marsh obliges with an aggressive style that contrasts with Beckett's lyricism. Most other tracks allow melodies to be shared between bass and trumpet, with Marsh creating enough tension to disrupt anything too sweet.

Levallet takes full advantage of the trio format, departing from a supporting role to take the lead on several tracks. I hesitate to call his contributions "bass solos" because they are melodic episodes worked into the compositions. He is an obvious virtuoso, and the recording reveals his dexterous fingering and arco technique. According to Discogs, Levallet's performance credits number 104 recordings between 1967 and 2019, including leadership on 18 sessions between 1975 and 2011.

Overall, Images of Clarity captures the interactions of three different voices: the vulnerable tone of Beckett, the provocative percussion of Marsh, and the stately lyricism of Levallet. Together, they elevate fairly simple material to a minor masterpiece. I wish this title were more readily available because it is truly an overlooked gem.

*Note: Studio A.I.D. was founded in 1987 by Gérard de Haro and later renamed Studios La Buissonne.