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Mats Eilertsen Trio: And Then Comes The Night

By Mark Sullivan
March 7, 2019
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Mats Eilertsen Trio: And Then Comes The Night

Norwegian bassist

Mats Eilertsen

bass
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Eilertsen has a large discography as a performer, but his compositional talents are equally striking. His previous ECM release as a leader, 2016's Rubicon, was a composer's showcase featuring a septet. But he has also worked in much smaller configurations, for example Meander (Ora Fonogram, 2017) his recent duet recording with guitarist

Jo David Meyer Lysne

guitar, acoustic
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Jo David Meyer Lysne.

This album reunites him with pianist

Harmen Fraanje

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Harmen Fraanje (who appeared on Rubicon) and drummer

Thomas Strønen

drums
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Str?nen (a fellow band member during the early days of the

Food

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Food collective). It is the trio's first album for ECM, following Elegy (Hubro Records, 2010) and Sails Set (Hubro Records, 2013). The set list consists of three Eilertsen compositions and two from Fraanje, with the rest created collectively (two by the trio, two brief piano/bass duets).

But there is a collective identity that permeates the entire session. The two version of Eilertsen's somber and beautiful "22" that open and close the album demonstrate the group dynamics. Titled for the 22nd of July 2011, it was composed in response to the shocking news of the terrorist attacks in Oslo and the nearby Norwegian island of Ut?ya. The first version opens with Fraanje's unaccompanied piano freely exploring the theme, before the rest of the trio joins in. The closing variant performance is all trio, but both are rubato exercises in group communication without solos. There is something especially heartbreaking about Fraanje's introduction in the opening version: ample reason for including both of them.

The first trio collaboration "Perpetum" begins with atmospheric textures before featuring haunting arco playing from the leader, finally launching into the perpetuum rhythm promised by the title (but much gentler than a group such as fellow ECM artist

Nik Bärtsch

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Nik B?rtsch's Ronin would do it). Fraanje's "Albatross" follows, a lyrical exploration for the entire band which further demonstrates that this music is not about soloists—even the compositional input is only a starting point. Eilertsen's "The Void" does have an actual bass solo: a brief expressive interlude that does not distract from the flow. The title tune is another collective creation, which demonstrates that the group can groove when they want to, even recalling the ecstatic moments of the

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett Trio.

This is a very special session, full of an extraordinary degree of empathetic playing . Harmen Fraanje's piano playing is especially impressive. He deserves a place among the many fine young jazz players. And the trio will hopefully be heard from again. A little sooner next time, please!

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

22; Perpetum; Albatross; After The Rain; The Void; Solace; Sirens; Then Comes The Night; Soften; 22 (va.).

Personnel

Mats Eilertsen

bass

Harmen Fraanje: piano; Mats Eilertsen: double bass; Thomas Stronen: drums.

Album information

Title: And Then Comes The Night | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: ECM Records

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Mats Eilertsen Concerts

Oct 26 Sun

Conservatorio di Milano – Sala Giuseppe Verdi

Conservatorio Di Musica Giuseppe Verdi
Milano, Italy

Nov 2 Sun

National Concert Hall

National Concert Hall
Dublin, Ireland

Nov 6 Thu

Koninklijke Schouwburg

Koninklijke Schouwburg
Den Haag, Netherlands

Nov 8 Sat

Christuskirche Mannheim

Christuskirche Mannheim
Mannheim, Germany

Nov 15 Sat

Bulgaria Concert Hall

��ѧݧ� "��ݧԧѧ�ڧ�" / Bulgaria Hall
Sofia, Bulgaria

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