Espen Eriksen Trio
End Of Summer
Rune Grammofon, 2020

End Of Summer is the new album by the trio led by Espen Eriksen.

Born in 2007, the trio of pianist Esper Eriksen has maintained a stable lineup over the years, featuring Lars Tormod Jenset on double bass and Andreas Bye on drums. End Of Summer is the trio’s fifth album (which had expanded the line up to quartet, with Andy Sheppard on sax for the fourth record).

The album explores usual sound worlds proposed by Eriksen. A blend of jazz, chamber music, soul, gospel and pop that is characterized by the lyricism of the melodies and the excellent use of sound spaces, silences in the aesthetics of this trio are as important as the notes.

“Where The River Runs” perfectly expresses the relaxed and (almost) contemplative sound mood of the trio; “Back To Base” and “Dancing Demons” are permeated by a color between soul and gospel, while the title track is characterized by South American nuances.

“Transparent Darkness” mixes a folk theme with a nice chamber sound. “A Long Way From home” features the drums leading the beautiful dynamic excursion of the song, which constantly grows in intensity, while the final “Reminescence” is a piece oriented towards classical music.

End Of Summer is a record that fans of Eriksen’s trio will love, but it’s also a good place to start if you don’t know the trio yet.

The album is characterized by great energy and intensity. The initial “Crack of A Dawn” (and also the reinterpretation of “Lotus Blossom”) moves in the modal terrains dear to Coltrane and McCoy Tyner. The title track skillfully mixes lyricism and intensity with a beautiful drum solo that develops over an ingenious piano ostinato.

“Rumble Seat” is a fun, danceable piece with the four-note piano riff in the foreground. The fun is maintained even during the cover of “If I Were A Bell”, which starts with a contagious medium groove.

“Carolyn” is a wonderful ballad that (further) highlights the talented Messios, while the concluding “Sketches Of Rhythm” is a walkway for the leader offering variations of the AABA form for solo drums.

Catharsis is a record that features a trio with a great interplay, original arrangements, interesting compositions, and an overwhelming energy that permeates the performances. It is a truly successful album.
(EM)