Bobo Stenson Trio – Sphere

Description

The Bobo Stenson Trios ability of covering far-reaching idioms and wide-ranging repertoire within the scope of their personal diction has become both hallmark and custom, inspiring the New York Times to say the pianist makes sublime piano-trio records without over-playing. Its pulsating, with long improvised phrases; its alive. Charting an equally subtle and idiosyncratic path through originals and melodies derived from various Scandinavian composers, the distinguished group proves of a particularly supple alchemy on Sphere. Here, a variety of musical tenets coexist in the unique blend, which the Swedish pianist has wrought, developed and refined over decades of collaboration with ECM and Manfred Eicher, who, as Bobo says brings out the musicians best qualities and produced the record. The pianists cohorts, Anders Jormin on bass and drummer Jon Flt, together accompanying the leader since Cantando in 2008, are more than ideal musical partners to Bobos soft touch and infinite appetite for interplay. Bobo: We dont have a way of playing ready-made. Things crystallise in the moment and we adjust to that. And thats the quintessence. Thats the joy of playing together, to never do the same thing twice and to be determined about that. The album was recorded at the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano, in April 2022.

Tracklist

1 You shall plant a tree
2 Unquestioned answer – Charles Ives in memoriam
3 Spring
4 Kingdom of coldness
5 Communion psalm
6 The red flower
7 Ky and beautiful madame Ky
8 Valsette op. 40/1
9 You shall plant a tree (var.)