e s t - the esbjorn svensson trio - huge in sweden
saw them at the wangaratta jazz festival several years ago
they have a new album out that was handed to me
time again to play the game of first impressions
a track by track listening and commenting on a full cd
fading maid preludium
gentle solo piano sounding like some kind of lullaby
then most unexpectedly a big rock guitar and drum sound crashes in
falls back to a 70's sounding prog-rock floyd/elp kind of tune
but here saved by the dominance of the piano layered on top
fades out and departs leaving anxious thoughts about the rest of the album
tuesday wonderland
title track of the album and a much more contemporary sound
overdubbed piano playing on this fairly standard straight-up jazz piece
bass and drums do the required backing and pianist shows off his skills
a quite up-tempo tune with losts of action all over the keyboards
but quite nice for all of that - gets the head nodding and feet tapping
the goldhearted miner
backing off on the beat big-time for this gentle number
there's a drum being brushed and a double-bass being gently played
the piano dominating on a quite melodic tune with an unusual string instrument added
some kind of asian type of lute usually heard in isolation
but added to great effect in this tune that otherwise would be quite average
the brewery of beggars
a clever segue from the last tune back into some heavy jazz-rock territory
the producer and engineers have had fun with this one i suspect
lots of different parts recorded and multi-tracked and mixed together
the intensity of sound moves between light and heavy with piano the constant
blows out to a full guitar histronics sound with jazz backing - then the big fade-out
beggar's blanket
and another seamless segue into a quite introspective piano and bass piece
a quite simple and repetitive bass line with the piano trilling laid on top
there's the promise of a sudden return to power and noise at any moment
but the 2 instruments are instead left to quietly work off and support each other
in the end this tune seems to be there to mostly provide a moment to catch breath
dolores in a shoestand
there's something about this outfit that lifts them above the pack
in one sense they are a fairly standard and very competent jazz trio
but there's a willingness to discreetly add other sounds to augment the sound
in this case there's an unobtrusive scratching sound worked in sparingly
cleverly drawing the listener in and then able to enjoy the melody on this up-tempo tune
where we used to live
slow, slow number with piano and brushed snare drum dominating
totally unfair but sounding very close to fellow scandanavian tord gustavsen
which is nothing but a good reference for any outfit also carving out their own sound
besides there is something quite beautiful and calming in this melodic sound
it would be brave to do a full album of this kind of tune but one is very comforting
eighthundred streets by feet
there's something about this one that sounds very familiar
again possibly because it's a fairly standard tune/approach for a 3-piece
drummer using the high-hat and snare to contain the rhythm
piano trilling at a nice pace over the top and bass doing the required job
another nice bit of unusual production work adding some extra textures at the end
goldwrap
the percussion working hard to provide the backing on this up-tempo tune
and again some extra electronica textures added in most appopriately
a quite catchy, fast-moving, piano-or-effects-leading tune of some familiarity
not the first time a kind of 1980's windham hill piano sound seems to be there
an unfair association no doubt but it usefully describes the piano sound on this tune
sipping on the solid ground
the defining sound here seems to be a constant and gentle cymbal and snare tap
piano and bass working in harmony before giving way to another unusual sound
chords being played and heavily mixed possibly from an electric guitar
then the familiar and lilting piano sound taking over and then giving way again
the sum of this all being a quite unique yet familiar feeling and lovely tune
fading maid postludium
oh so clever - the return of the big prog-rock sound from the opening track
but now the fading maid is postludium as opposed to preludium
whatever - this tune is quite outstanding at the end of the album
significantly bookending a set of tunes that seem very original yet familiar
and to cap it all off a beautiful fade-out with piano the solo voice
summary
award-winning and revered swedish jazz piano trio use modern recording techniques to create a very contemporary mixed-up album while retaining a beautiful melodic sound resulting in a very accessible set of tunes that offer repeat playing and familiarisation
