Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lars Danielsson, John Parricelli and Verneri Pohjola: Trio

Lars Danielsson, John Parricelli and Verneri Pohjola: Trio

By Neil Duggan
November 8, 2024
View read count

Lars Danielsson, John Parricelli and Verneri Pohjola: Trio

Ch?teau Palmer is a wine estate in Margaux, in south-west France. Those that know about these things rate their wines as among the best anywhere in Bordeaux. If you are going to record a jazz album outside of the recording studio, then a light and airy wood-paneled salon at the ch?teau with French windows overlooking the serene estate seems to be an inspired choice. The recording came about as the second part of a project between the German label ACT Music and the ch?teau.

Swedish bassist

Lars Danielsson

bass
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Lars Danielsson and British guitarist

John Parricelli

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">John Parricelli are long-term recording partners. They are joined by Finnish trumpeter

Verneri Pohjola

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Verneri Pohjola to form a trio. There are no keyboards or drums, making space for more acoustic textures. The recording took place in the same room, as opposed to the separate rooms usually used in a recording studio, producing a live feel. The album is unimaginatively named Trio and features six Danielsson compositions specifically written in the days leading up to the session, together with a track each from Parricelli and Pohjola, three covers and a group composition.

The album opens with "Le Calme au Ch?teau" with strummed guitar, lovely reverberating bass and a relaxed trumpet melody that is slightly mournful, until the jaunty ending brings a surprise. "Cattusella"'s Latin-tinged melody leaves space for the trio to explore, notably from Pohjola's breathy trumpet. His responsiveness also shines on "Morgonpsalm" and also "Playing with the Groove," where he moves up a gear as Danielsson and Parricelli drive tight, rock-like interplay.

Of the covers,

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington and

Barney Bigard

clarinet
1906 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Barney Bigard's "Mood Indigo" has an interesting arrangement but slightly distracts from the feel of the rest of the material. "La Chanson d'H��l��ne," a song by French film composer Philippe Sarde, has a cello and subdued trumpet, creating an achingly sad atmosphere. The third cover is an inspired left field choice by Parricelli. Written by the criminally under- rated Canadian singer-songwriter, Ron Sexsmith, "Gold in Them Hills" is given a straight reading, allowing the essence of the song to emerge. It is a beautiful track with superb playing from Pohjola.

Parricelli uses

Olivier Messiaen

" data-original-title="" title="">Olivier Messiaen as his inspiration for his explorations on his composition "Lacour." Pohjola's "Peu d'Amour" finds him combining subtly with Danielsson. Elsewhere, Parricelli impresses with his guitar ostinato on "?tude Bleue" whilst "L'?poque" is abstract and atmospheric. Created over four days, the album mixes a "Nordic" feel with chamber music and contemporary jazz and is clearly affected by the tranquility of the setting in which the musicians found themselves. The trio employs a less is more approach, using simplicity to find the beauty in the material. They deliver outstanding performances with a muted, relaxed and warm palette, perfectly structuring their sound to the acoustics. They probably enjoyed some rather fine wine along the way.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Le Calme au Ch?teau; Cattusella; Morgonpsalm; Playing with the Groove; La Chanson d��H��l��ne; L'?poque; Gold in Them Hills; Improvisado; Mood Indigo; ?tude Bleue; Lacour; Peu d'Amour.

Personnel

Lars Danielsson

bass

John Parricelli

guitar, electric

Verneri Pohjola

trumpet

Additional Instrumentation

John Parricelli: acoustic guitar (1-12).

Album information

Title: Trio | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: ACT Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

In Memory of Doug Sides
< Previous

Boom Collective, Ruby Ruston, Greg F...
Next >

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.