I know that a lot of you out there are asking yourself; so, what’s the best Swedish record of the year then? I’m sure the Swedish press are dying to find out what a yank form Chicago considers the best and the brightest of the year. My pick for best Swedish record of the year is not an attempt to be obtuse or one up everybody else with my stellar taste and obscure choice. But the the fact is for the past 5 months there has been one record in my CD player more than any other. And with each listen their are entire worlds that open up. And that record is the new one from the acclaimed Swedish jazz pianist Bob Stenson and his trio.
The new record is called Cantando and is on ECM one of the best jazz labels for virtuostic individualistic performers. This is the label that pioneered the avant-jazz piano trio sound with works by Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Paul Bley. I’m not sure what it is about the classic jazz piano trio (piano, bass, and drums) but when done right the interplay between the instruments, the composition and the themes of the piece are stunning (I’ve been listening to lots of Bill Evans as well). On Cantando the years of ECM recording piano trios has paid off as the recording is astounding. On a good stereo the instruments all inhabit their own space. The double-bass of Anders Jormin is a heavy weight in the room, and the various percussive elements of drummer Jon Faelt explore new horizons in the combination of jazz, world and contemporary music. But it’s the piano of Bob that centers the record. The work is meant to be heard in it’s thrilling entirety (almost 70 minutes) but if I had to select just one song I’d have to go with “A Fixed Goal” if simply for the manageable time and concise song structure.
Buy it here from Amazon.
