" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans' "Interplay" and "All Blues" sound on the edge of a clattering breakdown. Rather than seesawing between those two poles, Johnsen, Salander and Moen make them complement each other as shades of the same overall tone. When "When All Is Said and Done" is done, the feeling is similar to the wind-down of a fun dinner party that just flew by before you noticed. Fortunately this one is a pleasure to fly through again and again.

Max Petersen Trio
Divine Traces
QFTF
2019

This German trio is also quite a fun one, albeit in a much more obtuse manner; they may not catch the ear in obvious ways, but listen more closely and it becomes clear they're having a good time. They're also continually challenging themselves and us, which means the fun is somewhat like that of productive but tiring exercise. Divine Traces can be a struggle, but it's the kind that means they're definitely stronger players (and we're hopefully better listeners) after having gone through it.

Petersen's pieces show an ear for elegant classical melodies and harmonics while the group explores them with the improvisational dynamics of a jazz combo. The resulting pieces tell stories through their entire structures rather than "just" relying on tone or melody, though those can often be evocative on their own as well. The high drama comes from the trio collectively hammering each idea into shape, flowing from rowdy peaks to peaceful lulls and back (and forth and back again), as if they're punctuating a story or scoring a film in real time. This one may not engage the limbs, but offers the brain cells a thoroughly stimulating workout.

Fred Hersch Trio
10 Years, 6 Discs
Palmetto Records
2019

Behind the simple truth-in-advertising presentation here lies a rich mine of sensitive interplay, exquisite improvisation and masterful handling of material. It's redundant for some of