Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kristjan Randalu: Absence

Kristjan Randalu: Absence

By Mike Jurkovic
April 27, 2018
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With a gathering, rubato flurry, Estonian pianist

Kristjan Randalu

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Kristjan Randalu, a

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea-inspired student of the late, virtuosic and highly lyrical British pianist

John Taylor

piano
1942 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">John Taylor and his mischievous compatriot

Django Bates

piano
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Django Bates, begins "Forecast" in whirling descent, before the quiet storm of guitarist

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Monder and drummer Marku Ounaskari take the weather out to sea, where Randalu threatens to revive the current again and again but instead gives way to clearing skies.

Absence, Randalu's ECM debut, ricochets its motifs and dark, rhythmic overtones with a singular sense of structure and improvisation. The elusive first adaptation of "Lumi I" slowly focuses itself as Monder and Ounaskari establish the territory in which Randalu can ruminate. "Susi I" is a hushed chamber piece, essentially a piano solo that Monder colors like string quartet. While on the topic of colors, Ouanaskari exercises a sparse,

Jack DeJohnette

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack DeJohnette-like vocabulary throughout most of the nine tracks. "Escapism," "Adaption I" and "Adaption II" are the kind of rangy, illustrative trio improvisations that have been ECM's forte since the start of the label. "Partly Clouded" at first seems to loom as Monder weaves his cohorts together until the leader, like his teacher Bates, takes the piece elsewhere, past the clouds and into the quiet delicacy of the title track.

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Track Listing

Forecast; Lumi I; Sisu; Lumi II; Escapism; Adaption I; Adaption II; Partly Clouded; Absence.

Personnel

Kristjan Randalu

piano

Kristjan Randalu: piano; Ben Monder: guitar; Markku Ounaskari: drums.

Album information

Title: Absence | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: ECM Records

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