Further Reading
5th January 2024
Our first Round-Up of the year contains solo piano music by Nitai Hershkovits and Fergus McCreadie, Jasper Høiby's locked-in new trio, bluegrass from the charming Invoke quartet as well as one of the legendary Hank Jones' final appearances alongside Steve Davis.
Having made a resounding impression on the international jazz stage with his fêted trio Phronesis, Høiby now forms this fresh ensemble, melding the prodigious talents of Noah Stoneman on piano and Luca Caruso on drums. “3 Elements” offers a compelling, uncompromising, and robust sonic palette reminiscent of the groove-centric Phronesis, whilst being enriched by Høiby’s unmistakably charismatic bass sound. This ensemble not only provides an array of fresh tunes in but also revisits profound tracks like ‘Earthness’ from Planet B and ‘Love Song’ from Phronesis, peppered with explosive and abstract improvised interludes.
For Høiby, the piano trio format has for long been a vital makeup of his being, “The piano trio is a space where all instruments shine, leading the music’s direction. It’s a unifying space, acting like one living organism where the energy of three people come together as one.”
He cites Chick Corea’s “Now He Sings Now He Sobs”, Craig Taborn’s “Light Made Lighter”, and Avishai Cohen’s “Gently Disturbed” among his top trio albums, sharing that these masterpieces deeply influence his musical journey.
As part of the “3 Elements” project, Høiby intends to record with different trio lineups, using this as a foundation for his new working trio. “The first one, already done, features Noah Stoneman and Luca Caruso, and I’ll announce the subsequent lineups as we progress,” Høiby revealed.
Besides this, Høiby also shared glimpses of his future plans for his other projects, “Planet B” and “Fellow Creatures,” highlighting the collaborations and unique soundscapes they bring.
After spending a decade in Copenhagen, Jasper Høiby now back living in London is relishing the city’s myriad cultural offerings. “The jazz community in London is thriving with incredible talent emerging constantly, and I’m thrilled to be back amidst it all,” Høiby concluded.
Following his monumental journey with Phronesis, Jasper Høiby’s emergence at the forefront of a new piano trio seems both inevitable and inspired. “3 Elements” elegantly encapsulates the essence of its three instrumental voices, mirroring the elemental forces of nature. For dedicated Phronesis admirers and jazz aficionados, “3 Elements” stands as a testament to Jasper Høiby’s enduring legacy, meticulously crafted over two decades.
