Chugging in meaningfully at the beginning the role of the beautifully recorded double bass played by Tapani Toivanen here in this long-running trio is significant on 'Enlightened' allowing eventually pianist-leader and yet another Toivanen, Joona, to slip apparently effortlessly from white key to black and then gradually the piece transitions to organically let him solo. The trio is completed by one of Europe's best jazz drummers Olavi Louhivuori who is light and skippy and lets the trio dance along to the bassist's nudges and proddings. On one level the track grooves like a Ramsey Lewis-led foray maybe and does so very elegantly. On another deeper interpretation you get a sense of the firepower never fully harnessed at the disposal of Joona Toivanen and that is really why the number works and why it is such a delight. The knack and under lock and key formula but now casually let out of the bag must have been to simply hold back. From Both Only out next month
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