Variations is the Third collection of work released by Australian trio Trichotomy.  Founded a little more than 10 years ago after meeting at the Queensland Conservatoriam in Brisbane, as Misinterprotato, they've been an inventive trio at the forefront of contemporary jazz in Australia.

From the opening track, the spirited and upbeat Island Of The Sun, it is impossible to ignore the fact the major audience here is EST with a more-than-generous dollop of The Bad Plus.

The change from electric bass on their previous albums to pat Marchisella on acoustic marks a turning point for the band who continue to show their European leanings with the second track.  At The Right Moment, which could be a nod to Bobo Stenson or indeed Norway's Tord  Gustavsen.

It is a lovely ballad where Foran (all compositions are shared between pianist Sean Foran and drummer John Parker) adots a more minimalist and contemplative approach in contrast to Parker's Start which features another variation, where Crista Powell's violin and Bernard Hoey's viola nudge us closer to a modern classical ensemble and, along with John babbage's alto, Molvaer/Miles Davis like Ascent for best track on the album.

Once again, comparisons with EST (especially Dan Berglund's demonic bass playing) on Variations On A Bad Day and even more so on Chunk, where Marchisella's bass sounds more like a distorted electric guitar, can't be helped.

Variations is full of imaginative twists and turns and while comparisons to the EST are inevitable, fans of the Swedish trio will find much to enjoy.