Daniel Karlsson Trio @ Jazz Café, Newcastle - Sept. 28

Daniel Karlsson (keys); Christian Spering (bass); Fredrik Rundqvist (drums).

(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).

JNE and I don't always work the same side of the street, although BSH usually has one or more of the team in attendance - rather like the St. John's Ambulance Brigade at soccer matches. Tonight I was that team player and I feel very fortunate that I was!

The standing room only scenario suggested something special was going to happen and it did.

Not surprisingly, there was a Nordic air about the room and there were some Scandinavians in the audience as well as on stage.

Many bands are described as being a 'Power Trio' and, to my ears, none fit the description better than this award-winning Swedish band.

There were no inter-round summaries by Karlsson, I suspect his English is limited to "thank you" and "a pint of Stella please". It didn't matter - the music spoke for itself.

Few, if any, of the originals were straight ahead wham, bang, thank you mam, compositions. Each one offered mood swings, tempo changes, rubato explorations, frenzied attacks, rhapsodic solo piano sections, occasional arco bass moments as well as times when Rundqvist kicked (figuratively speaking) seven shades out of the kit. 

Rundqvist is one amazing drummer. Always on the money, driving without overpowering, everything integrated into the overall picture and not an iPad between the three of them.

Spering's bass playing had a beguiling sound producing a vibrato-like effect when sustaining a note and, although he had an array of pedals at his feet they were used sparingly (Speringly?) and effectively.

The leader may have been a man of few words, but he certainly communicated through the keyboard. His technique dazzled but, on the rare balladic moments, he could also hit the emotive buttons.

Collectively, a well-drilled unit and none the worse for that.

Catch them, if you can, at Bristol on Sunday or else at various venues throughout Europe.

Lance.
Photos.