SKYDIVE TRIO - Sun Moee
Hubro
Thomas T Dahl - guitars; Mats Eilserten - double bass; Olavi Louhivuori - drums
Worked very much in the format of a classic jazz guitar trio, this CD features 8 tracks penned by the trio’s membership, and with the addition of a [somewhat incongruous] cover version of Portishead’s Sour Times.
The sense of this being a straight ahead guitar trio recording is also supported by the fact that the thematic work is pretty much covered exclusively on Thomas Dahl’s guitar, with solid, bright and responsive interplays from bass and drums in a predominantly supporting role.
The material format is very much that of catchy themes and mid-tempo groves, with space for slower introspections. But from the very start we are dropped by the Skydive Trio into a harmonic landscape dominated by influences far from the Norwegian origins of this recording, with the American ruralania of early [ecm] Metheny and the folkic open harmonies of Bill Frisell being a dominant feature. This is not a criticism, just an observation of the arena in which this all moves. It is that of the warmly glowing electric guitar sound washed with touches of controlled reverb and the homely hug of a touch of subtle chorus. A tried and tested production classic, as reassuring as a plate of your favourite soup on a cold winter’s day. But also as unchallenging.
As CD’s go, this is what it is - an enjoyable and well achieved release, good of its type, even. It is certainly easy to engage with and indeed to like (quite a bit), a little unspectacular in conception and ambition whilst being very ably delivered.
Reviewed by Peter Urpeth
Hubro
Thomas T Dahl - guitars; Mats Eilserten - double bass; Olavi Louhivuori - drums
Worked very much in the format of a classic jazz guitar trio, this CD features 8 tracks penned by the trio’s membership, and with the addition of a [somewhat incongruous] cover version of Portishead’s Sour Times.
The sense of this being a straight ahead guitar trio recording is also supported by the fact that the thematic work is pretty much covered exclusively on Thomas Dahl’s guitar, with solid, bright and responsive interplays from bass and drums in a predominantly supporting role.
The material format is very much that of catchy themes and mid-tempo groves, with space for slower introspections. But from the very start we are dropped by the Skydive Trio into a harmonic landscape dominated by influences far from the Norwegian origins of this recording, with the American ruralania of early [ecm] Metheny and the folkic open harmonies of Bill Frisell being a dominant feature. This is not a criticism, just an observation of the arena in which this all moves. It is that of the warmly glowing electric guitar sound washed with touches of controlled reverb and the homely hug of a touch of subtle chorus. A tried and tested production classic, as reassuring as a plate of your favourite soup on a cold winter’s day. But also as unchallenging.
As CD’s go, this is what it is - an enjoyable and well achieved release, good of its type, even. It is certainly easy to engage with and indeed to like (quite a bit), a little unspectacular in conception and ambition whilst being very ably delivered.
Reviewed by Peter Urpeth
