Search - Tord Gustavsen Trio :: The Ground

The Ground
Tord Gustavsen Trio
The Ground
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Jazz, New Age
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

The second album by Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen is another set of crystalline beauty. Lyrical in both his writing and playing, the music is informed by his Scandinavian homeland's austere landscapes, as w...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Tord Gustavsen Trio
Title: The Ground
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Universal
Original Release Date: 1/1/2005
Re-Release Date: 3/7/2005
Album Type: Import
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Jazz, New Age
Style: Ambient
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The second album by Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen is another set of crystalline beauty. Lyrical in both his writing and playing, the music is informed by his Scandinavian homeland's austere landscapes, as well as a wide swath of jazz traditions and gospel influences from his youth (as a teenager Gustavsen was a church organist). The trio's interplay is supple and subtle to the point of the rhythm section sounding like they're actually a part of the piano. The music's gentle propulsion seems to be carried forward equally by all three players. Emotionally resonant, the warmth and clarity of ECM's high production standards captures every nuance -- even lightly struck cymbals resonate with incredible presence. --David Greenberger

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CD Reviews

Casts a Spell
Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a lovely recording. Tord Gustavsen (piano) and his bandmates Harald Johnsen (bass) and Jarle Vespestad (drums) have a way of casting dreamy spells with their instruments and interaction. Some critics have bemoaned their style, but such criticism to me seems simply to miss the point--these guys are very good at what they do, so it would be one thing to say they do not do it well, but to complain that you don't like this kind of music is beside the point. (That is one reason I rarely review rock recordings-- most of it I just don't like any more, but to moan about that in the context of picking on some particular recording would not be of much use to anyone.)



Yes, the tempi are slow, the melodies are languid, and things do get a bit, uh, precious at times. Still, there is great beauty here, and real skill. If you want to get beat over the head by a piano trio, try the Bad Plus. If on the other hand you want gentle, but intensely romantic playing, i.e., "emotion reflected in tranquility," The Ground is pure paydirt. It is a lovely, lovely recording."
There is a lot going on, without showing off
Busy listener | Italy | 08/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is full of interesting ideas, great melodies and skillfull playing, but without the in-your-face showing off of chops that we often get served in US piano trios. Yes, it takes more careful listening to see how great these musicians are, but it is worth the effort. And the fact that the music works on many levels, including just being beautiful, helps as well. If you like this, you might also enjoy Marcin Wasilewski trio."