Record Reviews

DAG ARNESEN TRIO ~ PENTAGON TAPES LOSEN 160 (Barcode: 7090025831607) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This album by veteran Norwegian pianist / composer Dag ArnesenFind albums by this artist and his classic piano trio with bassist Ole Marius SandbergFind albums by this artist and drummer Ivar ThormodsaeterFind albums by this artist marks a return to his Jazz roots, after a few years of exploring Norwegian Folk and folklore inspired Classical music. The trio presents eleven compositions, six of which are original compositions by Arnesen, three are standards, one is a traditional tune and one is by a fellow Norwegian composer Finn LudtFind albums by this artist. The music is very melodic and well within the mainstream Jazz idiom, but it incorporates many of the typical Nordic elements of melancholy and lyricism, which often characterize Norwegian Jazz. The original compositions by Arnesen carry over some of the qualities associated with the Norwegian Songs explorations, but their arrangements are more Jazzy. The trio performs the music with flair and elegance and a lot of solo space is given to the wonderful bass work by Sandberg and the drumming of Thormodsaeter, which is relatively rare in a trio setting, where the rhythm section is usually kept in the background. Arnesen improvises fluently and skillfully, which is of course expected, and his style is quite unique, playing many rapid progressions and arpeggios during the improvised parts. The trio produces a rather solid, strong sound, which keeps the listener at his toes at all times. Overall this is a very pleasant album, definitely quite different from the usual piano trio albums, due to the original material, the imaginative arrangements of the standards used and the unique performances by the trio. Piano trio fans and connoisseurs of mainstream European Jazz will definitely enjoy this music very much.

Updated: 10/09/2024Posted: 25/01/2017

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