being there

the third studio album from the tord gustavsen trio
wangaratta jazz festival october 2004
this was my first visit to this festival encouraged by a friend
who owns the local music shop and regularly sells cds at the festival
the trio performed late on the first night
i was in the audience purely out of curiousity and lack of other choice
they were unbelievably, stunningly, amazingly brilliant
and i was not alone in that judgement
after the show i was asked to help my friend on his cd stand
we spent 20-30 minutes flat out selling both albums
sold all he had available - about 400 cd's from go to whoa
next morning they were on again and word had got out
the concert hall was unusually packed for saturday morning
ditto at the last concert on the sunday night
3 incredible performances in 3 days
i had the fortune to chat briefly to tord at one point
the most humble, interested, friendly, gracious man
and his 2 cohorts seemed similarly approachable
maybe that is the norwegian way
or maybe just good manners or smart business
they came back to australia 18 months ago
performed as part of the sydney arts festival
and a one off performance in melbourne
i went to both those shows also
and had the pleasure of joining them for dinner in melbourne
so there you have disclosure - i'm totally biased in my judgement
now bearing in mind there are limitations in a 3 piece lineup with no vocals
and an obvious preference for space, melody, technique
it would be easy to hear sameness in tracks and albums
so you have to be very patient and repeat play and listen
as i have done lately with this latest album
at home
it only takes 3 piano notes on this first track
there is only one pianist i know of that is at work here
then the trademark percussion and double bass are with us
and we are back, ahem, at home in the company of their beautiful music
vicar street
i recall tord introducing this on their last visit
apparantly inspired by a recording studio in dublin
the 3 musicians in unison here challenging and firing each other
and then the piano kicks in on melody until fade-out
draw near
slow, slow, slow number - bass plucked gently and randomly
percussion every so lightly tapped or stroked
and piano equally caressed and a tune drawn out
blessed feet
military drumming on the snare introduces this one
then some relatively heavy handed piano playing
you can almost picture his feet working the pedals
as this one works itself up into what could be a rock tune
complete with a bridge and change of key
sani
harald bass player takes a break
jarle drummer rattles away on his cymbals
tord pianist hammers out a pleasant little tune
interlude
jarle now also takes a break
tord noodles away at firing out a monotic beat on one hand
and tinkers around with a melody using the other
preparing us for the next track
karmosin
solo and brief drumming using all his gear
piano tinkering up the top end
and the bit i remember from the live concert
drumsticks being dragged across the cymbals
and then we are dropped into a tune
that has me going all goose-bumpy and teary
remember the final emotional scene of one flew over....
moose escaping across the hospital lawns
remember the music? this reminds me of that
still there
the thing that always strikes me about this outfit
is that sometimes as on this lovely piece
you feel you know the tune or the chords or the melody
there's a tune on a previous album with echoes of song for guy
but it's all coincidence even if it does bring the comfort of recognition
where we want
rock out track with the 3 of them hard at it
starting out with organised noise making
then tord demonstrates his skills at speed on the keyboards
before it settles down and eases out gently
cocoon
sometimes you hear a tune that you are unfamiliar with
that behaves itself just as you want it to
you hear a note or a chord or a bar
and the next one is just right
this is one of those
around you
i find there is always one or two tunes on an album
that do not immediately connect
i take that as a positive
repeat playings and this one could also be a standout
vesper
double bass dominates this one
and showcases some excellent playing
where piano and bass are in unison
same notes, same key, same tune
wide open
did i mention the incredible touch of the percussion
the rhythmical bass playing
the confidence of the piano playing
and how they all work together so well
album closer leaves you wanting more

cheers for repeat play
and to the trio
is good...