TINGVALL TRIO – Cirklar
Skip Records: SKP9157-2
Martin Tingvall: piano; Omar Rodriguez Calvo: double bass; Jurgenn Spiegel: drums and percussion.
No recording information
Knowing that this CD entered the German pop charts (well inside the top 30), gives you an idea of what you might expect here. This is attractive piano-led music that crosses the boundary between instrumental pop music and other styles. Each piece, composed by Swedish pianist Tingvall, sets out a simple theme which is then repeated in a verse-chorus structure against a rhythmic accompaniment that owes more to rock than jazz (apart from a few flourishes on the double bass that give a nod to a more jazzy feel). The chord sequences tend to be bright, major progressions and create a very positive vibe. Even the pieces tinged with a more melancholic edge, such as ‘Bland Molnen’, track 4, or ‘Det grona hotellet’, track 8, have a warmth to them. This is the trio's fifth album since their formation in 2003 and, over this period, they have built up a faithful following and have amassed numerous awards (particularly the Echo and the German Jazz awards) for their live playing. From the immediacy of these pieces, you can readily imagine that hearing them live would be a rewarding experience. My own tastes lie towards sounds that have more experimentation and variation in the tunes and rhythms, with less emphasis on the strong hook. However, the strong hook is what this band do very well and their popularity shows that they’ve carved out their own path in the music.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Skip Records: SKP9157-2
Martin Tingvall: piano; Omar Rodriguez Calvo: double bass; Jurgenn Spiegel: drums and percussion.
No recording information
Knowing that this CD entered the German pop charts (well inside the top 30), gives you an idea of what you might expect here. This is attractive piano-led music that crosses the boundary between instrumental pop music and other styles. Each piece, composed by Swedish pianist Tingvall, sets out a simple theme which is then repeated in a verse-chorus structure against a rhythmic accompaniment that owes more to rock than jazz (apart from a few flourishes on the double bass that give a nod to a more jazzy feel). The chord sequences tend to be bright, major progressions and create a very positive vibe. Even the pieces tinged with a more melancholic edge, such as ‘Bland Molnen’, track 4, or ‘Det grona hotellet’, track 8, have a warmth to them. This is the trio's fifth album since their formation in 2003 and, over this period, they have built up a faithful following and have amassed numerous awards (particularly the Echo and the German Jazz awards) for their live playing. From the immediacy of these pieces, you can readily imagine that hearing them live would be a rewarding experience. My own tastes lie towards sounds that have more experimentation and variation in the tunes and rhythms, with less emphasis on the strong hook. However, the strong hook is what this band do very well and their popularity shows that they’ve carved out their own path in the music.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
