Hallgeir Pedersen Trio: Wistful

Wistful is a fine title for this album by the Hallgeir Pedersen Trio. Led by guitarist Pedersen and featuring bassist Bjørn Alterhaug and drummer Trond Sverre Hansen, the trio maintains a quiet mood of reflection throughout the disc. What the album lacks in stylistic diversity is made up by its unified, almost meditative performances.

With the exception of an eight-minute exploration of Weill's "My Ship, the tunes all fall under the five-minute mark. Accordingly, Pedersen occupies the majority of the spotlight. His playing is pleasingly mellow and free of any histrionics. His tightly controlled, fluid runs remind one of a shy, mild mannered friend who starts talking suddenly and unexpectedly reveals that he has a lot to say. His work on "Be All You Can Be is particularly melodic and assured. Elsewhere, Pedersen delivers a long and ruminative solo on "My Ship that leads into a fine, murmuring statement by Alterhaug. The tempo rises on a sharp run through Coltrane's "Impressions, proving that the members of the trio can think fast on their feet.

Wistful is not a flashy album that demands attention. Its pleasures are subtle and come from the fine interplay of the musicians and the tasteful restraint each provides. It is a very fine effort from a band confident enough to let the music stand on its own.