TORD GUSTAVSEN — Tord Gustavsen Quartet ‎: The Well (review)

TORD GUSTAVSEN — Tord Gustavsen Quartet ‎: The Well album cover Album · 2012 · Post-Fusion Contemporary Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Matti P
Norwegian jazz pianist and composer TORD GUSTAVSEN (b. 1970) has recorded albums since 2003, with either the word trio, quartet or ensemble following his name on the cover. Years back I have grown a fondness for two of his trio albums, featuring naturally piano, bass and drums.

This 53-minute album is my first acquaintance for his quartet format, the fourth instrument being a tenor saxophone. I am very rewarded, as the essence of his music remains to be lyrical, serene and introspectively thoughtful, in the finest ECM tradition. The touch of the legendary producer Manfred Eicher is easily recognized, and to a fan of the label that's a positive thing. Sax helps to get associations to Jan Garbarek in the overall spirit, but Gustavsen's music with the emphasis on piano has its own individual personality. The presence of the sax is mostly inferior to the piano during the whole album, and whenever it arrives, it adds another thoughtful element to the sound without breaking the harmonic introspection.

On the slow, melancholic 'Prelude' the sax just gently breathes along the piano melody. On the slightly louder but apparently saxless track 'Playing' the drums appear even before the piano starts, and the double bass is occasionally played with a bow, thus resembling a cello. The longest piece 'Suite' (8:19) has a beautifully calm first section to where the sax arrives as the melodic lead instrument for a while. The track flows very elegantly with a mysterious flair. The sense of a dream or a mystery is even stronger on 'Communion' where the percussion is very sparse and where there are occasionally some peculiar wailing sounds. The quiet, breathy sax is lovely.

I remember some almost Elton John reminding sweet piano melodies from an earlier trio album, and here 'Circling' does the same. That nicely prevents the album of becoming too introvert. Nevertheless, safe to say that to enjoy this album a lot requires a sincere taste for moody introspection and serenity.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sustain Avant-Garde Jazz
AALY TRIO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunset Park Post Bop
TOBIAS MEINHART
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed