CARSTEN DAHL TRINITY - Painting Music
ACT Records 9891-2
Carsten Dahl (pno) Nils Bo Davidsen (bs) Stefan Pasborg (drs)
This is the first release on ACT by the Copenhagen based pianist Carsten Dahl with his fine new trio who fit very well into the label's stable of cutting edge contemporary artists. The pianist himself has over forty albums to his credit as a leader since 1996. Justifiably lauded throughout the European jazz scene, he made the transition from drums to piano aged eighteen and is also a renowned artist, hence the title of this new album released on 27th September. Joining him are bassist Nils Bo Davidsen, who for twenty years has been a member of the Danish new music collective ILK and drummer Stefan Pasborg who is an ex pupil of the great Alex Riel and has also had experience within bands led by Tomasz Stanko and John Tchicai.
The set list for this recording was an inspired one, combining four great standards with two originals from the band, three from the recognised jazz cannon itself, plus one Danish folk song. The playing throughout is of the highest class with its own collective personality although at times the listener should be forgiven for thinking, particularly on the more up tempo numbers, that style is just a little too cloned from Keith Jarrett's piano trios. Things get underway with an original composition Sailing With No Wind, a tune with a very memorable theme taken at a slow tempo highlighting very strong and resonant bass motifs, a light touch from the piano, plus decorative skills from the drummer. Following a very sideways but intense dig into the theme of Jerome Kern's All The Things You Are we come to an absolute gem, which is worth the price of the album alone. Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg composed for the 1939 film The Wizard Of Oz will always be associated with Judy Garland. Although it has not been embraced many jazz musicians over the years, here it is given a completely fresh interpretation by the trio at the slowest possible of tempos with each note simply teased out by the piano and dripping with emotion. It is among the finest examples of taste and restraint that you are likely to encounter. Almost at the same level is the great standard Be My Love from the pen of Nicholas Brodsky, in 1950 with lyrics by Sammy Cahn and made famous by Mario Lanza. This the longest track on the disc at just over eight minutes, receives a full workout of high intensity by all members whilst at the same time paying full respect to the ethos and sentiment expressed by the composers. Some of the other pieces including the Miles Davis tunes Solar and Blue In Green along with the Arthur Schwartz composition You And The Night And The Music, although played at the same high level are simply used as vehicles for collective improvisation. The album closes with one of the most regularly performed and recorded tunes of all time Autumn Leaves, here it receives a thoughtful, engaging and almost stunning re-invention that, dare I say, Mr Jarrett himself would have been proud of!
In conclusion, for its sheer diversity of approach and intense musicality this album comes highly recommended to anyone who has a liking for contemporary improvising trio jazz.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
ACT Records 9891-2
Carsten Dahl (pno) Nils Bo Davidsen (bs) Stefan Pasborg (drs)
This is the first release on ACT by the Copenhagen based pianist Carsten Dahl with his fine new trio who fit very well into the label's stable of cutting edge contemporary artists. The pianist himself has over forty albums to his credit as a leader since 1996. Justifiably lauded throughout the European jazz scene, he made the transition from drums to piano aged eighteen and is also a renowned artist, hence the title of this new album released on 27th September. Joining him are bassist Nils Bo Davidsen, who for twenty years has been a member of the Danish new music collective ILK and drummer Stefan Pasborg who is an ex pupil of the great Alex Riel and has also had experience within bands led by Tomasz Stanko and John Tchicai.
The set list for this recording was an inspired one, combining four great standards with two originals from the band, three from the recognised jazz cannon itself, plus one Danish folk song. The playing throughout is of the highest class with its own collective personality although at times the listener should be forgiven for thinking, particularly on the more up tempo numbers, that style is just a little too cloned from Keith Jarrett's piano trios. Things get underway with an original composition Sailing With No Wind, a tune with a very memorable theme taken at a slow tempo highlighting very strong and resonant bass motifs, a light touch from the piano, plus decorative skills from the drummer. Following a very sideways but intense dig into the theme of Jerome Kern's All The Things You Are we come to an absolute gem, which is worth the price of the album alone. Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg composed for the 1939 film The Wizard Of Oz will always be associated with Judy Garland. Although it has not been embraced many jazz musicians over the years, here it is given a completely fresh interpretation by the trio at the slowest possible of tempos with each note simply teased out by the piano and dripping with emotion. It is among the finest examples of taste and restraint that you are likely to encounter. Almost at the same level is the great standard Be My Love from the pen of Nicholas Brodsky, in 1950 with lyrics by Sammy Cahn and made famous by Mario Lanza. This the longest track on the disc at just over eight minutes, receives a full workout of high intensity by all members whilst at the same time paying full respect to the ethos and sentiment expressed by the composers. Some of the other pieces including the Miles Davis tunes Solar and Blue In Green along with the Arthur Schwartz composition You And The Night And The Music, although played at the same high level are simply used as vehicles for collective improvisation. The album closes with one of the most regularly performed and recorded tunes of all time Autumn Leaves, here it receives a thoughtful, engaging and almost stunning re-invention that, dare I say, Mr Jarrett himself would have been proud of!
In conclusion, for its sheer diversity of approach and intense musicality this album comes highly recommended to anyone who has a liking for contemporary improvising trio jazz.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
