For a decade now, the trio made up of Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas and Ted Nash has formed a unique ensemble, highlighting impressive group interplay and creative interpretations of the music of their favorite composers. After years devoted to the music of other artists, the trio, now without a drummer, felt it was fitting to perform compositions by its own members on the new album, Triological. The relationships between Allison, Cardenas and Nash span several decades. Wind instrument master Nash hired Allison for his first professional gig in 1990. Their bond deepened later in the decade, when they became members of the Jazz Composers Collective. Guitarist Steve Cardenas joined Allison’s circle in 2004, and the two men discovered a deep affinity, evident in the many projects they carried out together. The trio came together when Cardenas and Allison were approached for a concert in upstate New York. For that show, they decided to focus on the music of legendary guitarist Jim Hall. After a first rehearsal, Cardenas and Allison decided to add a wind instrument in tribute to Jimmy Giuffre’s groundbreaking trio, which included Hall and bassist Ralph Pena. Their choice of Nash as the wind player was inspired, and the trio has impressed ever since.