CD ECM Records Tord Gustavsen Trio: The Ground

2005

Tord Gustavsen - pian
Harald Johnsen - contrabas
Jarle Vespestad - tobe

The group here features Harald Johnsen on bass and Norwegian chill-out group Supersilent’s remarkable drummer Jarle Vespestad. Again, too, the music has something of the Svensson trio’s knack for simple but haunting, hook-based themes delivered as a close three-way embrace, though at a lower dynamic level and in a more slowly evolving way. Gustavsen’s tunes sound like a mix of romantic-classical rhapsodies and very slow soul ballads given a little jazzy push whenever they risk getting becalmed. … Gustavsen may not play many notes but he does make them all count, and Vespestad’s patient, multi-textured drumming is hypnotic listening.
John Fordham, The Guardian

The most enthralling pianist/composer and trio to emerge for an age (from Norway, natch), follow up the sensational Changing Places with a second set of pellucid ballads, ghostly tangos and gently twinkling ice-funk. Slightly freer than before, but no less stately, The Ground is reverie music of the highest order. … In short, this album will make your life better.
Phil Johnson, The Independent On Sunday

Gustavsen’s band does all the things you would expect an ECM label trio to do – pellucid, contemplative melodies ebb and flow over shimmering cymbals and brushed drums – but they do more besides. There are hints of gospel, the blues and those warm folksy melodies that Keith Jarrett wrote around the time of My Song. The trio also inject a subtle funk groove into “Curtains Aside” and “Edges of Happiness”. This year has already brought strong piano albums from EST and Lynne Arriale and the venerable Jarrett has a solo double ready; Gustavsen is up there with them.
John Bungey, The Times