Bobo Stenson (piano); Anders Jormin (bass); Jon Fält (drums).(Review by Lance)
Piano trios are very much to the fore these days - just about every other CD that drops through the letterbox seems to be a piano, bass and drums unit albeit not an 'easy listening' combo although, in truth, the Swedish Bobo Stenson Trio is easy to listen to.
This, despite being recorded on the always challenging ECM label and featuring music by Bartok, and Satie alongside originals by Jorman, Stenson, Fält and others, the listener's comfort zone is rarely breached.
The trio's take on Satie's sombre Elegié has an underlying swing to it that still manages to retain the pathos of the original.
The trio's take on Satie's sombre Elegié has an underlying swing to it that still manages to retain the pathos of the original.
Delicate, searching, piano by Stenson, sound harmonic content from Jormin - whether pizzicato or arco the double bassist provides an equally important voice to the affair. Drummer Fält is subtle and unobtrusive. No crash, bang, wallop merchant he but a sensitive soul who is felt as much as he is heard. The exception to this is in his intro to Jormin's Hemingway Intonations where Fält produces some bell sounds (For Whom the Bell Tolls?)
Not quite the easy listen it first appeared to be, in fact quite demanding at times but, in the end, well worth the effort.
Lance.
Available on ECM 2582 5786976.
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