Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground

[Nate Dorward]

Gustavsen, piano
Harald Johnsen, bass
Jarle Vespestad, drums

ECM 1892



This one kind of defies criticism: if you like soooooooothing ECM piano trio jazz then this one will be right up your alley. Actually I don't even like the style much but it's hard not to enjoy this in a purely sensual way, like a warm bath or cool ointment. It's not boring & not cloying, & listening to it is guaranteed to make your pulse slow to a comfortably dreamy pace. There's lots of stylistic input here (bossa, jazz, church music, gospel, Satie, Jarrett, Spanish music, tango) but not so's you'd notice--it all just ends up part of the same tuneful, winedark fabric. It's like having someone murmur in your ear for an hour.

The tune-titles are the drippiest part of the disc--

Tears Transforming
Being There
Twins
Curtains Aside
Colours of Mercy
Sentiment
Kneeling Down
Reach Out and Touch It
Edges of Happiness
Interlude
Token of Tango
The Ground

--but otherwise this avoids sugariness in favour of a mild languor, occasionally rising in intensity to mild poignance.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

There's a good profile on this trio in the latest Jazz Times, I was thinking about picking it up.

I've said this in other spaces, but I love the ECM sound. I first got into ECM when I was stationed in Germany during the late '70s. For some reason, ECM recordings were in plenty supply in the PX system over there.

[mke]

Sounds a lot like the first one. Have you heard it? I thought Vespestad was awesome on it, considering the limited dynamic range he has to stick to.

[Nate Dorward]

No, haven't heard the 1st one. The drummer is indeed very good but I find myself almost unable to comment on the disc specifically (individual contributions, or track-by-track commentary): it's more like a musical substance or a mood than anything.

[Other Steve]

Having heard both, I'll opine that Vespestad sounds much freer on this one, and the music is underscored much more decidedly by a gospel tone.

I like 'em both, but the earlier one is more cuddly. This one's both a little more involved and a little more somber.

I understand the reasons why I'm not supposed to care, and they don't matter: I still really like the tone of this band.

Weird, though, that this new album went straight to number one on the Norwegian pop charts in February, shoving aside the likes of Robbie Williams and U2.

[hearsay]

Originally Posted by Other Steve

Weird, though, that this new album went straight to number one on the Norwegian pop charts in February, shoving aside the likes of Robbie Williams and U2.

That is wierd. I knew that country was cool.

[kyrre_laastad]

i guess it is positive that is sold that much here.

i haven't heard the disc, but i've read that gustavsen went through some hard times with a traffic accident which killed his grandmother, brother and niese, during the composing for the album. i can certainly sympathise with that and respect it, but i really disliked the first album, so i don't think i'll get this album.

i really like vespestad, though, but if you want to hear him in a trio setting i'd rather reccomend veslefrekk's 'valse mysterioso' with arve henriksen and ståle storløkken, which is beautiful.

i like gustafsson better.

[Nate Dorward]

I'll certainly take Gustavsen over Gustafsson..... Though Gokhan is trying to convince me otherwise!

[Sand]

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

I'll certainly take Gustavsen over Gustafsson..... Though Gokhan is trying to convince me otherwise!

Now, if I could get all of you to agree on Johansson.
He grabs me more - after all these years.

I do think highly of the musicians in the Gustavsen Trio.

Changing Places and The Ground haven't done much for me so far. I prefer The Ground. You know, when I say I they haven't grabbed me, that means that I haven't grabbed for them, without thinking that I should grab for them to check if I could possibly be grabbed. I should check once more, I guess.


Son

[gnhrtg]

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

I'll certainly take Gustavsen over Gustafsson..... Though Gokhan is trying to convince me otherwise!

Yes, now if only that lazy bastard can get to work and send you those discs so you can hear for yourself. First thing upon my return to France...no, for real this time.

[Lois Gilbert]

[Lois Gilbert]

I thought I would bring this up as reference since we are now giving away the final Gustavsen in the trilogy - Being There

[guy]

I thought this one was pleasant but ultimately boring.

Guy

[Morthrablethrockmorten]

Don't these guys all have backgrounds in more lively forms of contemporary pop music?

[kerrmit]

I hade these guys confused with The New Rod Torfulson's Armada featuring Herman Menderchuck.

[Simon Fay]

Borrowed one of their discs from my local library, didn't even make it to the end. Had to have smelling salts administered. No wonder they're seen as commercially worth using freebies to excite interest.

[MrPoortom]

Are there any other Tord Gustavsen fans here?

He is definitely my favorite jazz pianist, at least right now, if not of all time.

He just has a certain sound that is very easy to listen too. Would you consider this cool jazz? I think he has a very 'cool' sound. Just curious what others thought of him.

Mike

www.MikeRomigMusic.com

[nude ant]

Yes!

Tord is great and his tro is amazing as well.

Just caught them at the Jazz Bakery a few weeks ago and it was a very enlightening experience.

[David Bauckham]

I purchased 'Changing Places' immediately after seeing the Trio perform in Brighton (England) shortly after it's release. The concert was tremendous - easily one of the best I've been to. However, for me the album was a little disappointing and I've not really felt inclined to purchase either of the two subsequent recordings.

If like me, you found the studio recordings disappointing, don't disregard the Gustavsen Trio until you've seen them live, when they stretch out a bit more as opposed to the relatively short and superficially similar-sounding compositions on record.