Brev til en ven
April, 2022
8/10
The Denmark outfit Kosmos Trio make quite an impression with this debut album of Nordic jazz, where the pianist Frede Holger Thorsen, drummer Gustaf Hagelskjær and bassist Harald Hagelskjær navigate around 8 very adventurous tunes.
“Mørkevandring” starts the listen with warm piano, before crisp drums and strategic bass enter the warm but frisky formula, and “Slow Motion” follows with stirring keys that emit a unique intimacy in the cautious climate.
“Blue Garden” occupies the halfway point, and showcases a dynamic interaction between the trio that makes great use of mesmerizing textures, while “En anden gang” mixes beauty and tension with meticulous musicianship in the album’s best selection.
The last two tracks are equally interesting, where the rumbling, nearly ominous “Langfredag” highlights the firm drumming, and “Ved kysten” exits with an absorbing dreaminess that really benefits from the hypnotic keys and drawn out bass.
A striking listen that’s full of complicated metters, calm ebbs and no lack of harmony, rhythm and grooves, Brev til en ven is hopefully the first of many records from this talented and creative trio.
Travels well with: Mario Gaiotto- Cosmopaulista; Quadro Nuevo- Odyssee- A Journey Into The Light