Throughout his musical career, Gary Peacock created some of his most outstanding works for piano trios. In the early stages of his career, he was instrumental in developing a new role for the double bass, which now functioned as an independent melodic voice—an evolution that continued in ensembles led by pianists such as Paul Bley, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett. Peacock made his debut as a bandleader in 1977 with ECM's "Tales of Another," alongside Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette, before making successful recordings under the pianist's direction. In the new millennium, one of Peacock's most impressive projects was his trio with pianist Marc Copland and drummer Joey Baron. Their ECM debut album, "Now This" (2015), garnered considerable acclaim in both Europe and America. The Guardian described it as "fascinating," while All About Jazz opined:
"These artists are always anchored in the present moment: they listen, respond, know when to begin and when to pause." This description also applies to "Tangents," the ensemble's remarkable follow-up album. The trio's powerful virtuosity, combined with poetic restraint, enlivens five compositions by Peacock, one by Copland, and two by Baron, as well as a darkly atmospheric free improvisation and compelling interpretations of two classics associated with Bill Evans: "Blue in Green" and "Spartacus."