Tord Gustavsen Trio – Seeing
The seventh trio album by Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen on ECM Records came out last October and we’ve been coming back to this very intense record over and over again since its release. Jarle Vespestad on drums accompanies the pianist since his 2003 album “Changing Places”. Bassist Steinar Raknes is on board since 2022’s “Opening”. The songs on the new album “reflect my personal development as I get older, going for the essentials in life and music“. This can especially be witnessed on his original compositions like “The Old Church” where he easily melds jazz with soul, gospel, folk, and some blues too. There are two Johann Sebastian Bach cantatas: “Christ lag in Todesbanden”, written for the Easter holidays, is a pretty haunting affair which comes with a lot of restraint and reserved pathos. There is an English version of the Lutheran church hymn “Auf meinen lieben Gott” (“In God, My Faithful God”); the trio comes up with another pretty gospel-induced interpretation. It’s as if they have played together forever.
But I think it’s really on his own compositions where Tord totally convinces: there is a lot of hidden soul behind and underneath “Extended Circle” and a total command on the solo “Piano Interlude -Meditation”. After that, the trio chimes back in for a fascinating, uncanny respite on “Beneath Your Wisdom”, echoing those essentials which he is referring to in the quote above for this stunning LP (yes it’s also out on vinyl). Less is more on the variation on the Gospel “Nearer My God, To Thee” where the trio moves to a more dramatic terrain on the second half – but they keep it all in minor modes and convey an utterly poignant mood. The album opener, a Norwegian traditional, and the album closer, another Tord original called “Seattle Song”, both underline the very intimate, almost impressionistic virtuosity here. I’m looking forward to seeing the trio perform live at this year’s Transition Festival in Utrecht and if you’re anywhere near the cities listed below, make sure to check them out.
1/21 Erlangen – Kulturzentrum E-Werk
1/22 Kaiserslautern – Cotton Club
1/23 Heidelberg – Karlstorbahnhof
1/24 Rorschach – Industrie36
1/26 Freiburg – Jazzhaus
1/28 Vienna – Porgy & Bess
1/29 Munich – Unterfahrt
1/30 Stuttgart – Theaterhaus
1/31 Hamburg – Laeiszhalle
2/01 Yverdon – Théâtre Benno Besson
3/15 Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg
Please also check out our review of the 2016 album “What Was Said”.
