Expect Strong Jazz From Trio

Thu., June 4, 1998

William Berry Correspondent

Chops-plus guitarist Ron Eschete and his trio from Los Angeles are in town doing the Spokane jazz tour. Tonight at 7:30 the trio will appear with the 20-member Spokane Falls Jazz Ensemble at the SFCC Music Building Auditorium. Friday finds the trio at Hobart’s Jazz Lounge at Cavanaughs Fourth Avenue from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The trio includes drummer Tim McMahon and bassist Todd Johnson. Johnson is a Spokane native and 1983 graduate of the SFCC Jazz Studies program.

Eschete is known as one of the best in the business when it comes to the traditional chord/melody guitar style.

Eschete, who has spent a good deal of quality time in pianist Gene Harris’ L.A. quartet since 1990, has stepped into the spotlight on several occasions. He has done some solo recording and cut several albums with his trio, including “Mo’ Strings Attached” in 1993, and the more recent “Rain or Shine” and “Soft Winds” on the Concord label.

The Ibanez bass played by Johnson likewise increases his versatility to perform chords and do melodic work. In this case, there is a 50 percent increase in firepower, from the normal four strings to six. A “Bassics” review hit the nail on the head when it said, “This trio sounds like five guys!”

Tickets for tonight’s concert at SFCC are $6 for adults, $3 for students or seniors, available at Street Music, Hoffman Music and at the door (free for SFCC students). The cover at Hobart’s is $8 ($7 for students) at the door.

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