ESPEN ERIKSEN TRIO - Never Ending January
Rune Grammofon
Espen Eriksen - Piano; Lars Tormod Jenset - Bass; Andreas Bye - Drums
Norwegian pianist Espen Eriksen has penned all eight of the tracks on this the third release by this trio, and the music draws on the strong if more recent traditions of European harmonic improvisation and the darker, sparser, inflictions of modal and folk orientated sources of Nordic / Scandinavian jazz. This broad summary must also acknowledge the seemingly astonishingly high production values of the recording studios and engineers the closer one gets to the northern pole, and this release is firm evidence of that assertion.
For this reviewer, whilst the increased flow of impeccably produced jazz releases from Nordic/ Scandinavian sources is to be admired, reflecting as it does, musical cultures of depth and wealth, there is also a downside, which I shall express mildly as a concern. That is, that there is now such a familiarity to the fundamental harmonic troupes of this music that musicians who do not seek new ground risk easy dismissal as being a little bland.
Sadly, for this reviewer, with one or two moments of exception, all eight tracks on this CD drifted by in a haze induced by the music's well rendered but inconsequential, mid-tempo, introspection. The rhythm here is just too uniform and there is sadly a distinct lack of any really engaging or memorable melodies to draw the listener into its fold.
The exceptions mentioned at the top of this review are the moments when this trio moves to areas of greater harmonic and rhythmic tension (most notably in the title track), but they are simply too few and far between to rescue this session. This is a shame as Espen Eriksen has very fairly established a reputation as a fine musician, but here I was left wanting more, something fresh, maybe something darker; some edge to lift and reveal a more brooding music.
Reviewed by Peter Urpeth
Rune Grammofon
Espen Eriksen - Piano; Lars Tormod Jenset - Bass; Andreas Bye - Drums
Norwegian pianist Espen Eriksen has penned all eight of the tracks on this the third release by this trio, and the music draws on the strong if more recent traditions of European harmonic improvisation and the darker, sparser, inflictions of modal and folk orientated sources of Nordic / Scandinavian jazz. This broad summary must also acknowledge the seemingly astonishingly high production values of the recording studios and engineers the closer one gets to the northern pole, and this release is firm evidence of that assertion.
For this reviewer, whilst the increased flow of impeccably produced jazz releases from Nordic/ Scandinavian sources is to be admired, reflecting as it does, musical cultures of depth and wealth, there is also a downside, which I shall express mildly as a concern. That is, that there is now such a familiarity to the fundamental harmonic troupes of this music that musicians who do not seek new ground risk easy dismissal as being a little bland.
Sadly, for this reviewer, with one or two moments of exception, all eight tracks on this CD drifted by in a haze induced by the music's well rendered but inconsequential, mid-tempo, introspection. The rhythm here is just too uniform and there is sadly a distinct lack of any really engaging or memorable melodies to draw the listener into its fold.
The exceptions mentioned at the top of this review are the moments when this trio moves to areas of greater harmonic and rhythmic tension (most notably in the title track), but they are simply too few and far between to rescue this session. This is a shame as Espen Eriksen has very fairly established a reputation as a fine musician, but here I was left wanting more, something fresh, maybe something darker; some edge to lift and reveal a more brooding music.
Reviewed by Peter Urpeth