For his fourth album, Calgary bassist Simon Fisk continues fine-tuning the jazz trio tradition to stunning effect. His trio idols (Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette) had seemingly closed the book in 1983 when, in just two sessions, they recorded the monumental Standards, Volume 1, Standards, Volume 2 and Changes. Far be it from Fisk to simply emulate the conventions put forth by the Jarrett-Peacock-DeJohnette triumvirate, though. Instead, Fisk steadily strikes out on his own, forming new allegiances, striking up new collaborations and proving that contemporary acoustic jazz has shaken off the shackles of “post-bop.” It is fitting that for Vague Hotel, his latest album released on his own boutique label, Fisk would work with drummer Jerry Granelli, who has not only worked with two of his biggest bass influences, Peacock and Charlie Haden, but who has been attributed with shaping the sounds of the ’60s West Coast scene, cool jazz and the beginnings of psychedelia and free-form improvisation.

Though Granelli will always be remembered as the drummer for Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, according to Fisk, Granelli told him he was paid $112 U.S. dollars for the gig — peanuts (so to speak) for an album that would become the second-best-selling jazz album of all time next to Miles Davis’s A Kind of Blue. Hearing stories of Granelli’s “good friends” Peacock and Haden certainly put Fisk in his place, and in truth, had him playing mind games until he sat down and sorted it out.

“It was a crazy time,” admits Fisk. “I was vibed out. I mean, Jerry was used to playing at a certain level, and then to be recording an album with him, it was just messing with me. So I sat down and was honest, and you know what he said? ‘Just chill out, man. Charlie and Gary never liked how I played anyway.’ He really put me at ease.”

What followed was a short two-and-a-half-hour session, which became Vague Hotel. Not one to sit back and relax, Fisk has already started plans for his next project.

“I’m really excited about next March,” says Fisk. “I’m bringing in cellist Matt Brubeck, who’s played on the last three Tom Waits albums, and Kevin Breit, who I think is pretty much one of the best guitarists in Canada.”