Third Plane is an album by jazz bassist Ron Carter, released on the Milestone label in 1977. It features performances by Carter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams.
A second selection of five tracks recorded by the trio during the same day's sessions was released under Herbie Hancock's name as Herbie Hancock Trio.
The second album that was released from the material recorded with Herbie, Tony, and Ron at David Rubinson's new studio in San Francisco on July 13, 1977--this one released on Milestone Records due to contractual obligations
A1. "Third Plane" (5:52) a nice little Latin-shaded tune composed and anchored by Ron that sees Herbie taking the melodic lead with vim, verve and a Antonio Carlos Jobim-like respect for space and clean phrasing. The drumming is solid though rarely Tony Williams-like in its fire and creativity. Still, an excellent, beautiful tune. (9.25/10)
A2. "Quiet Times" (7:50) a late night wanderer that slides into some Miles Davis Kind of Blue-like blues in its second minute while Ron's slip-sliding bass runs up front, Tony's brushed drums down beneath the others, and Herbie's piano somewhere in between. Though Ron is credited as the song's composer, he performs more as if this were so than on the album's opener (to which he is also the credited composer), soloing quite eruditely throughout fourth and fifth minutes. Herbie's piano play even brings in a lot of Kind of Blue phrasing and stylings. (13.625/15)
A3. "Lawra" (6:06) on this one the boys return to the light, performing a Tony Williams song that would also be exhibited in expanded form (9:43) on the September V.S.O.P. release of the Greek Theater concerts sandwiched around this date in the recording studio entitled The Quintet. (9/10)
B1. "Stella By Starlight" (8:24) another cover a jazz standard, yet another one that Miles helped to resuscitate make popular, this one a song from a film of the same name that came out in 1944 and whose music was composed by Victor Young. The song was made a jazz standard via covers by Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Bud Powell, Stan Kenton's big band as well as Nat King Cole before Miles grabbed it and twice revived it's popularity in 1955 and as part of his live concert standards in the mid -1960s. Nice rendition though I know the previous versions so little that it feels fresh and original (if a little scattered) to me. (17.75/20)
B2. "United Blues" (2:59) another Carter composition that displays Ron's propensity for bounce and syncopation with the trio being asked to hold fast and firm to a very clean and clear-cut discipline throughout. (8.875/10)
B3. "Dolphin Dance" (8:18) here reviving an old Herbie classic (originally from Maiden Voyage, it was inspired by a Count Basie tune), the band rises and falls with the ocean swells as Herbie and Ron swim playfully around each other while Tony seems content to watch like a mesmerized child. (18.5/20)
Total Time 38:03
If I have any complaint of this album it would be of the continued low levels of the drums and continued far-forward push of Ron's bass: I would like to have heard from these recordings at The Automatt a little more even leveling of the three instruments as I found myself tiring a bit at trying to work past Ron's bass playing, as amazing as it is, in order to hear Tony's drum play.
Track listing:
"Third Plane" (Carter) – 5:53
"Quiet Times" (Carter) – 7:52
"Lawra" (Tony Williams) – 6:08
"Stella by Starlight" (Ned Washington, Victor Young) – 8:26
"United Blues" (Carter) – 3:01
"Dolphin Dance" (Herbie Hancock) – 8:20
Personnel:
Ron Carter – bass
Herbie Hancock – piano
Tony Williams – drums
