''Standing there waiting in the dark, no light, only the light of the fire, and no sound of any kind, only the fire'' (Samuel Beckett, Embers)
From the bittersweet ballad and beautiful lead-off track and throughout a slow ache resonates, there is a spaciousness that lingers long in the air. Recorded down in the Village, Copenhagen, a cinematic directorial quality in drummer leader Phelan Burgoyne is certainly in evidence On Thursday. No grandstanding, a Paul Motian approach led from the kit then there's Italian pianist Emanuele Maniscalco warm and gentle if not Stefano Bollani-like in exuberance more a little Billy Taylor-like by contrast at least in one bluesier passage on 'Always a Pleasure, Never a Chore,' a choice part of his contribution. No matter jazz archaeologists: oh come, oh come Emanuele.
Danish bassist Anders Christensen, the Dark Eyes Stańko band player, middles every note and more to the point his sense of time and the way the decay of his sound is captured is handsome. Not exactly party music it must be said if that is an issue for you dear readers but neither is this trio record a gloomy farrago of laboratory monasticism but more about the accomplished capturing and ultimate realisation of nocturnal expectation. Ultimately a very different approach to the art of the piano trio certainly for 2020. Stare into those coals why not. Out today. On Hout
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