BENEDIKT JAHNEL TRIO - The Invarient
ECM 571 2837
Benedikt Jahnel: piano; Antonio Miguel: double-bass; Owen Howard: drums
Recorded March 2016
Berlin-bred and based pianist Benedikt Jahnel celebrates the tenth anniversary of his trio with “The Invariant”. The trio, with Spanish bassist Antonio Miguel, and Canadian (now living in Brooklyn) drummer Owen Howard presents eight compositions on this new album that Jahnel had been working on for the past five years for this formation. The Benedikt Jahnel Trio has been something constant in an evolving cycle for the pianist who doubles as a mathematician. Music and math are inextricably connected, and Jahnel manages to have pieces balancing musical and mathematical constructs but not at the expense of the music. All three players have a terrific synergy with each other, and feed off each other in an album that features memorable writing and thoughtful improvisation.
“The Invariant” brings the trio into somewhat uncharted territory because many of the compositions here swing as much as they do float with even eighth pulsation or rubato means, a quality due in no small part to Howard’s drumming. The drumming pushes Jahnel, especially comfortable as an even eighth note player into areas of robust swing. “Further Consequences”, a maze of a melody demonstrates this facet perfectly. Howard settles down into swing with brushes, prompting Jahnel to take a thoroughly measured but swinging turn, Miguel’s bass in lockstep with the pianist’s left hand. “The Circuit” features a quietly sneaking melody line enrobed in Howard’s sumptuous brush work, and Miguel’s flexible bass. Jahnel’s solo is teeming with lyrical ideas, gently swinging, Miguel’s beautiful bass soloing to close wraps up quite a charming tune. “Mirrors” brings the classic straight eighth feel with moments of abrupt dovetails into free form playing. The trio really is at it’s best on the final three numbers, “For the Encore” is a pretty wintry ballad, and “En Passant” closes a terrific album, light as air, again featuring Miguel’s lithe bass.
Captured in the velvety sonics of the famous Rainbow Studio in Oslo, “The Invariant” is a cerebral effort from a trio that has established rapport that affords sensitivity and freedom. Jahnel’s compositions and soloing are never less than engaging, and hopefully it won’t be too long before another chapter is added to this terrific band.
Reviewed by C J Shearn
ECM 571 2837
Benedikt Jahnel: piano; Antonio Miguel: double-bass; Owen Howard: drums
Recorded March 2016
Berlin-bred and based pianist Benedikt Jahnel celebrates the tenth anniversary of his trio with “The Invariant”. The trio, with Spanish bassist Antonio Miguel, and Canadian (now living in Brooklyn) drummer Owen Howard presents eight compositions on this new album that Jahnel had been working on for the past five years for this formation. The Benedikt Jahnel Trio has been something constant in an evolving cycle for the pianist who doubles as a mathematician. Music and math are inextricably connected, and Jahnel manages to have pieces balancing musical and mathematical constructs but not at the expense of the music. All three players have a terrific synergy with each other, and feed off each other in an album that features memorable writing and thoughtful improvisation.
“The Invariant” brings the trio into somewhat uncharted territory because many of the compositions here swing as much as they do float with even eighth pulsation or rubato means, a quality due in no small part to Howard’s drumming. The drumming pushes Jahnel, especially comfortable as an even eighth note player into areas of robust swing. “Further Consequences”, a maze of a melody demonstrates this facet perfectly. Howard settles down into swing with brushes, prompting Jahnel to take a thoroughly measured but swinging turn, Miguel’s bass in lockstep with the pianist’s left hand. “The Circuit” features a quietly sneaking melody line enrobed in Howard’s sumptuous brush work, and Miguel’s flexible bass. Jahnel’s solo is teeming with lyrical ideas, gently swinging, Miguel’s beautiful bass soloing to close wraps up quite a charming tune. “Mirrors” brings the classic straight eighth feel with moments of abrupt dovetails into free form playing. The trio really is at it’s best on the final three numbers, “For the Encore” is a pretty wintry ballad, and “En Passant” closes a terrific album, light as air, again featuring Miguel’s lithe bass.
Captured in the velvety sonics of the famous Rainbow Studio in Oslo, “The Invariant” is a cerebral effort from a trio that has established rapport that affords sensitivity and freedom. Jahnel’s compositions and soloing are never less than engaging, and hopefully it won’t be too long before another chapter is added to this terrific band.
Reviewed by C J Shearn
