Like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens, it’s impossible to dislike piano trios – some of my favourite things.
The key thing about Almost There is that it is the return of the Espen Eriksen Trio proper, after two albums made with English saxophonist Andy Sheppard. But I liked the handy Andy presence – don’t get me wrong.
Bearing such a caveat in mind, nevertheless there is something elemental and perfect about the trio format on its own that requires no further enhancement. Pianist Espen Eriksen, bassist Lars Tormod Jenset and drummer Andreas Bye aren’t afraid to keep to what they known within the prism of the format and go on to display their hearts on their sleeves. Wrapped up in blue opener the title track ‘Almost There’ wriggles into one’s consciousness like blood spurting through even the most decaying and encrusted of arteries like a salmon searching for their river home negotiating a polluted, devastated waterway as the ever intrepid fish shoots along the stream.
The tunes are incredibly melodic and do risk being overly so. The EET are no EST, however, and if you really want to hear a top Norway led piano trio for the noir and deepness then you must beat a path to the Tord Gustavsen trio as the acme of the sound and non pareil and a classic from 20 years ago like The Ground.
The EET were formed in 2007, and this is their eighth album, all the music here was written by Eriksen. The 52 year old leader was born in Norway in Haugesund. The bassist Lars Tormod is 48 and was born in Midsund there. He studied music in Copenhagen and has played with Norwegian outfits like the Eldar Vågan Trio. The drummer Andreas Bye is 51 and hails from Skoppum and has played with electric jazz keys doyen of Norway, Bugge Wesseltoft.
I don’t think the album is going to change the world. It’s not meant to. Perhaps it makes too many compromises and can be felt to be more a background listen than a foreground one. Nevertheless everything is beautifully played and the tunes make sense.
The album was recorded in Oslo, a happy hunting ground for the trio when they decide to bunker down in the studio. Alas it’s pretty brief and yet even so certainly relieves the misery of life and thoughts of cruel winters ahead by spending quality time with it. It’s over a bit too soon but in its best places it is pure balm. And someone should write words to the very beautiful ‘Another Day’ which is the obvious achievement that I’ll be replaying with pleasure often.
Leave a comment