The trio [em] seemed to arrive fully formed in 2005, with its own conception, sound and energy, stunning everyone with its consummate musicianship. The trio’s first two albums were more photographs of where the three musicians were in the steep learning curve they were ascending than the finished article. But the critical reaction to them and to their concerts, which quickly became a “must see” event across Europe, reinforced the feeling they were on their way to following EST as a European headliner on the festival circuit, always assuming they didn’t implode in the meantime, such was the force fields of energy they created in concert.

New album [em] 3 is another progress report on their development, and they are well on course to fulfil expectations. The album is an equal and opposite reaction to their two previous albums with a reflective – even introspective mood (for instance ‘Symmetriads’) – as the trio explores a series of études where meaning and melody are the watchwords. Through Wollny’s association with saxophonist Heinz Sauer, he was encouraged to get to the point in a musical sense and none of these compositions exceed six minutes, with most around four.

One of their hallmarks is presenting material where the dividing line between the improvised and the written is impossible to discern. Indeed, on a through composed piece such as “Gravité” the boundaries are even more blurred. These are very rounded performances, exploring the microscopic corners of melody and form, yet extracting depth with a  profound sense of rationality and intuition. Stuart Nicholson

This review is from Jazzwise Issue #117 to read the full review section and receive a Free CD Subscribe Here...