Record Reviews

ODDGEIR BERG TRIO ~ WHILE WE WAIT FOR A BRAND NEW DAY OZELLA 103 (Barcode: 4038952001031) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022 This is the third album by Norwegian Jazz pianist / composer Oddgeir BergFind albums by this artist and his trio with bassist Karl-Joakim WisloffFind albums by this artist and drummer Lars BerntsenFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Borge-Are HalversenFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader. Berg defines the album as the last part of a trilogy, which started with the debut and closes with this album, recorded in the midst of the pandemic. Musically the album continues the path set by its predecessors, based on highly melodic themes, which are the basis of extensive, but not to complex improvisations. The pace of the music is somewhat more energetic in comparison to the Nordic atmosphere of the earlier albums and the sound is expanded with the used of keyboards in addition to the acoustic piano, which is still the main instrument. The new drummer also adds his personal touch to the trio sound, especially at the very high spectrum, with intensive usage of the cymbals. The music continues also to be somewhat cross-genre, with some of the tracks sounding more like Art Rock than Jazz, The slightly altered sound and musical direction push the music further out into the lighter flank of the Jazz spectrum, which can be enjoyed by listeners, who might not be Jazz connoisseurs per se, expanding its accessibility even further, which is not bad as long as there are no quality compromises involved. Overall, this is a solid piano trio Jazz album, which can be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners, who prefer the melodic touch rather than cerebral intensity. It should be interesting to witness Berg reinvent his music in its next cycle.

Updated: 11/08/2022Posted: 11/08/2022

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