Stronger, deeper
An expansion of Finnish pianist composer Alexi Tuomarila’s long running piano trio – the extra elements are the addition not only of guitar played by Portuguese musician André Fernandes but on three of these 8 tracks a small horn section is interpolated.
The electronics in the sound help give the album a contemporary feel but at its heart it is strongly rooted in a piano trio modernism found in the best post-Mehldau traditions.
”I’m eager to push the boundaries of what we can create together as a trio and to look at things from perspectives different from what we’re used to”
– Alexi Tuomarila
Pushing on into uncharted territory
Fernandes on ‘August’ and elsewhere likes to pitch bend and I suppose there is an element of Americana in the sound when he does this but it’s only a light coating. Not to be outdone on keys on ‘Circle’ Tuomarila also delves into an enhanced microtonality nudging the pitch into relative terra incognita. Elsewhere the Finn who has a fabulous technique and is a hugely expressive player does things on the piano few could come close to achieving. On some tracks his approach makes me think of the approach of another virtuoso’s virtuoso – Taylor Eigsti, who dazzled this year on Plot Armor, one of the year’s biggest pianistic achievements.
As for Tuomarila, who is 50, the pianist leader’s best work on Edition I think is still Seven Hills (2013), a recording that Fernandes also fleetingly appears on. But this is an enjoyable listen, too.
Watch a live version of album track ‘Gaman’
Here once again Tuomarila is with the close knit team of bassist Mats Eilertsen and drummer Olavi Louhivuori at the core of the recording made in Porto. Trombonist Gil Silva, tenorist José Pedro Coelho – who solos beautifully on ‘Circle’ – and altoist/flautist João Guimarães are also on the record.
Tunes are mainly Tuomarila’s
Tunes are mostly the leader’s plus there are a couple by Eilertsen. The only track that is non-essential is the brief ‘Aether’ but the rest reward detailed listening and quality time spent on them. It’s a good blend and points to a bigger sound that Tuomarila is after. There’s a real grandeur to ‘Towards the Light’ spread out. ‘Gaman’ is a surprise, more detailed patterns and the spookily chilling introduction of an electronics sound that sent me to thoughts of sonar. The bowed bass of ‘Watchtower Hill’ adds great mobility and dark colours. And yet the album is as often optimistic sounding especially when Fernandes solos. ‘Inner Wasteland’ is freer sounding and has more of a wildness to it. But the most exhilarating bass riffs – oh, easily – are found on the driving ‘Moreeni’ and are a dazzling element of a big menu of imaginative and stimulating sounds scattered prodigiously bountifully all over.
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