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Bobo Stenson: Contra la indecision

By Karl Ackermann
January 10, 2018
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With a few exceptions, Swedish pianist Bobo Stenson has spent his long recording career with the prestigious ECM label, dating back to his oddly named Underwear in 1971. That particular album turned out to be more a showcase for bassist

Arild Andersen

bass, acoustic
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Arild Andersen and drummer

Jon Christensen

drums
1943 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Christensen than for Stenson, and the pianist did not lead again on the label for twenty years. Stenson was hardly absent from

Manfred Eicher

" data-original-title="" title="">Manfred Eicher's iconic label in those intervening years, appearing as a sideman for

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry,

Jan Garbarek

saxophone
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jan Garbarek,

Tomasz Sta��ko

trumpet
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Sta��ko and

Charles Lloyd

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Lloyd. On Contra La Indecision, Stenson reconvenes the trio that last issued the 2012 release Indicum.

Stenson and double bassist

Anders Jormin

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Anders Jormin have a three-decade history beginning with a mutual association with saxophonist Lenart ?berg. It was the pair's contribution to Lloyd's Notes from Big Sur (ECM, 1992) that brought both to prominence. Percussionist Jon F?lt is the youngster in the trio—still in his thirties, he has mostly played with well-known artists inside of Sweden; his initial recording being Indicum.

Jormin is credited with five of the seven original compositions on Contra La Indecision. The album opens with Cuban guitarist Silvio Rodr��guez's "Canci��n Contra La Indecisi��n" (Song Against Indecision), a light and catchy piece, ironically, from a composer known for his literary seriousness. Erik Satie's familiar "?l��gie" begins quietly before Stenson moves it to a bright and punchy treatment with the rhythm section adding subtle, intricate textures. B��la Bart��k's "Wedding Song From Poniky" is a beautiful rendition of the jovial original and features a pair of brief, but excellent, solos from Jormin. The bassist's own composition "Three Shades of a House" provides him with more opportunity in the form of an extended intro solo. The piece briefly veers toward abstraction when Jormin picks up the bow, but it doesn't stray far from the overall charm of the melody. "Stilla" has a rambling bluesy quality with an intriguing dialog between Stenson, Jormin and F?lt.

Stenson's strong suits have always been his playing—his mastery of the measured build up—and his talent for arraigning other's compositions to put a unique stamp on each. His blending of classical, jazz and folk influences and uncommon time signatures has led to comparisons (not necessarily precise ones) with

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett and

Brad Mehldau

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Mehldau. Stenson's own style is easily recognizable and is especially well-served in the company of Jormin and F?lt. Not all of Stenson's work has the bursts of color that we hear in Contra La Indecision and that makes it one of his most interesting albums to date.

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Track Listing

Cancion contra la indecision; Doubt Thou the Stars; Wedding Song from Polinky; Three Shades Of a House; Elegie; Cancion y Danza VI; Alice; Oktoberhavet; Kalimba Impressions; Stilla; Hemingway Intonations.

Personnel

Bobo Stenson

piano

Bobo Stenson: piano; Anders Jormin: double bass; Jon Falt: drums.

Album information

Title: Contra la indecision | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: ECM Records

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