Giuffre Memorial Trio - 2022 - The Five Ways

(51:39; RMN Classical)

Track list:
1. Past Mistakes 2:09
2. Divided Man 0:44
3. The Five Ways 8:40
4. Four Brothers 0:51
5. Rejoice 2:46
6. Pompel & Pils 1:24
7. Stones from a Garage 3:58
8. The Second Way 9:31
9. Odessa Blue Pills 3:39
10. Moskva 5:03
11. Capetown 3:27
12. A Third Way (Not the Last) 8:42
13. Cliffhanger 0:45

Line-up:
Roger Arve Vigulf - clarinet
Per Christian Arnesen - bass
Björn Norvall Hoemsnes - piano


Norwegian threesome Giuffre Memorial Trio was formed in 2021, taking inspiration from the works of the late musician Jimmy Giuffre in general and his album "Free Fall" in particular. They released their debut album "The Five Ways" in the late fall of 2022 through the label RMN Music.

Improvised music with a free form character and orientation is what this trio brings to the table, with around one half of the album covering material created by the aforementioned Giuffre and the other half being original material created by the trio.

Reading up on Giuffre I see that he was a pioneer in improvised music, spearheading what would become known as free form music, but with his take on that orientation being one with a stronger relation to classical music. This aspect is maintained by this trio rather well indeed.

The material here moves back and forth between being more jazz-oriented and executed with more of a classical music touch to the proceedings, and more often than not the improvisation in question will feature elements from both jazz and classical music as a part of the total experience.

As far as improvised music and free form music goes, this isn't the most challenging album out there. We do get occasional escapades into dramatic and chaotic landscapes, but the greater majority of the numbers here are more careful, slow moving affairs with flowing instrument motifs, softer sounds and textures and an overall more careful approach and delivery. Not without sharp edges or technical, quirky instrument movements, but generally speaking the threesome have opted for a more careful and deliberate execution here, using the more dramatic surges and details more sparingly and then also to good effect when they do appear.

It is stated that the musicians in this trio have a classical background, and it is easy to hear that these are well schooled and well trained performers. The technical quality appears to hold a high and professional standard throughout, and one does get the impression that it is a seasoned unit that have created this production. The mix and production appears to hold a similar, high standard throughout.

In terms of style of music this is an album that exists quite a bit away from my natural environment, and is a production that exists a bit on the side of the material I normally receive with more of a jazz orientation too. While I'm not personally taken by the music presented to me here, I do recognize the skill that has been used to create this album and have a good enough listening ear to understand and comprehend that this is a high quality production. So while not quite my cup of tea, hence the rating, for those with an equal interest in jazz and classical music this is an album that should be an interesting experience, and I suspect that some with a passion for contemporary classical music should find quite a few cuts to appreciate on this album too.

Olav M. Björnsen, January 2023

Links:
https://giuffrememorialtrio.com/
https://rmnmusic.com/