Bobo Stenson - Reflections (ECM, 1993)

Bobo Stenson, piano
Anders Jormin, bass
Jon Christensen, drums

Recorded May 1993
Rainbow Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug

Bobo Stenson is one of several artists who helped to establish the "ECM sound" for piano trios. Along with fellow Swede, Anders Jormin, and Norwegian drummer John Christensen, Stenson recorded a uniformly excellent series of albums for Manfred Eicher's iconic label. While ECM is sometimes unfairly maligned for an icy approach to jazz (a reputation wrongly associated with its Nordic home base), Stenson's trio recordings are anything but icy.  His records with Jormin and Christensen stand as prime examples of jazz that is warm, engaging and beautifully recorded.

 The opening track on Reflections, "The Enlightener," is a Stenson composition that moves swiftly through a three-way conversation that winds down to a soft close. Everyone is actively engaged and attentive to each other. "The Enlightener" is a great setup for the more pensive "My Man's Gone Now." The trio's version of the other jazz standard in the set, Duke Ellington's "Reflections in D," is stunningly beautiful.

Stenson's own compositions are mostly short pieces in the 4-to-6-minute range, except for the closing "Mindiatyr," which clocks in at 10:21 minutes. "Mindiatyr" begins with a gentle Flamenco feel, then morphs into a forceful Stenson solo. Jormin solos at about the 7-minute mark. Stenson's cascades set up the tune's final bars.

I have dozens of albums on which John Christensen plays, and his approach is ideal for Stenson's trio. He exhibits a quiet virtuosity that expands the lines played by his bandmates. The trio often floats through pieces that seemingly have no time signature, allowing Christensen to become a rhythmic colorist. His deft brushes on cymbals often anticipate the entry of piano or bass, creating a mysterious aura on most numbers.

As for Jormin, he belongs to that lofty family of Nordic bassists so often found on ECM albums and elsewhere. On Reflections, he creates an elastic pulse for Stenson's complex phrasing. Jormin's "NOT" showcases his marvelous tone. His other tune, "Q," develops slowly in free tempo, allowing each member to play individual lines. I enjoy trio music like this where the lead shifts subtly across group members. 

Stenson's earlier albums, especially War Orphans (ECM, 1998) and Serenity (ECM, 2000) are highly recommended. His most recent trio album, Sphere (ECM, 2023) has its moments but is somewhat subdued. Regardless, I applaud Stenson's longevity and his exquisite taste and touch. Now in his 80s, Stenson continues to record at regular intervals. Jazz owes him gratitude for his artistic contributions for over 50 years.