Tord Gustavsen Trio
Saturday, June 10, 2006 10:07 PM (permalink)
I hear a lot of music in the run of a week (part of
the job, mainly) and sometimes it gets a little fatiguing. Still, every few weeks or so I come across something really, startlingly good, and it gets me excited about music again. I am not a Jazz buff--fairly ignorant about it, to be honest--but recently I discovered Norway's Tord Gustavsen Trio, and it spun me right around. I have two of their discs:
The Ground, and
Changing Places and they have quickly become essential listening during my workday.
Quiet, atmospheric and highly melodic, Gustavsen's music sounds familar and strange at the same time. Superlative playing, and a brilliant recording. The drummer, Jarle Vespestad, is unbelievably good--quiet, yet propulsive and melodic. Maybe my best musical find so far this year. If you don't think you like jazz (and you KNOW you don't like
Smooth Jazz) you might be surprised how quickly Gustavsen's discs grow on you.
