Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Skydive Trio: Sun Sparkle

Skydive Trio: Sun Sparkle

By Gareth Thompson
May 29, 2018
View read count

There are parts of Norway where the sun hardly sets for months on end. It stays bright all night and dawn is never dark. The essence of this strange polar light finds its way into Sun Sparkle, the second album from Norwegian act Skydive Trio. Its predecessor, Sun Moee, also referenced our great burning star, which can hardly be coincidence. There is something both mythic and solar about this trio's music. Fittingly it also comes over as equally retro and futuristic.

Sun Sparkle revolves around the glinting guitar work of Thomas T Dahl, though he is only credited with one track here. The others are ascribed to bassist

Mats Eilertsen

bass
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Eilertsen, whose own Rubicon album was released by ECM, and drummer Olavi Louhivuouri who has played with

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton and

Kenny Wheeler

flugelhorn
1930 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wheeler. Together they offer a jazz-rock vibe that pulls you into its current with a seductive tug.

Dahl's fretwork might seem to dictate and dominate, but Eilertsen's bass is a strong presence, dropping notes like depth charges. Louhivuouri rarely keeps to a rigid beat, but matches the fluidity of his main soloist stride for stride. "Launch" sets things going with a rock-solid riff over which Dahl unleashes metallic solos. But this boulder-like opening cleaves apart and the next tracks splinter into shards. "Convoy" smoulders from the start, like the calm before a storm, then "Apollo" whips up a sax-like finale full of unease.

For all its mellow fretboard doodling, this album has a haunted core. It brings to mind the poet W.H. Auden's line about the sound of distant thunder at a picnic. "Descending" and "Ascending" are like the soundtrack to a dark summer's day; the title track basks in mellow ambience and "Surface Stride" marries nervy drums with beatific motifs. Then the final number "Wish I Was Who? (Camera Off)" is relaxed and romantic, bringing perfect closure after the stifling tensions.

For all his obvious homeland influence, Dahl has most in common with U.S. guitarists such as

Bill MacKay

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill MacKay,

Julian Lage

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Lage and

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell. There's that same easeful sense of space between notes, along with chords that float like colourful kites. On this classy blend of Nordic jazz and Americana, Skydive Trio goes free-falling together, yet each member flies blissfully alone.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Launch; Convoy; Apollo; Engine Rest; Descending; Surface Stride; Spruce; Ascending; Sun Sparkle; Wish I Was Who? (Camera Off).

Personnel

Mats Eilertsen

bass

Thomas T Dahl: guitar; Mats Eilertsen: upright and electric bass; Olavi Louhivuouri: drums.

Album information

Title: Sun Sparkle | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Hubro Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Beloved of The Sky
< Previous

Oh My, Those Boys!
Next >

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

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.