Rasmus Sørensen: At The Right Time

Danish-born, New York-based pianist Rasmus Sørensen finds melody as well as fluidity in At The Right Time. This rising jazz star stands alongside other young musicians like Joey Alexander and Fergus McCreadie, exhibiting his ability to craft pieces that have a generous listenability matched by a sophisticated musicality in more freestyle sections. With this release, Sørensen showcases 12 diverse and original compositions with the talented help of Jon Henriksson on double bass and Francesco Ciniglio on drums.

Unlike a substantial number of modern jazz musicians, Sørensen does not go in for lengthy tracks. This allows for energized yet sensitive songs like "The Sun" or "Retreat." Even when the trio is playing with a softer touch, the music continues to sing out. Throughout, Sørensen not only makes the individual tracks individualized but he keeps a subtle musical thread running to weave all of them together. It is a tough balancing act successfully pulled off. And though 12 tracks may seem like plenty, he leaves us wanting to dive further into his songbook.

"Perennial Youth," the longest track on the album at over six minutes, stands out mainly through the pianist's rhythmic, cyclical repetition. This technique is the glue that holds the piece together, and it lasts just long enough not to get tiresome. Then, with "Earthlings," the team channels a sound closer to Bill Evans. It is a light but spirited summer-turning-into-fall sort of piece that one might hear on Time Remembered (Milestone, 1983) or Portrait in Jazz (Riverside, 1960). Closer to the end, "Ocean Waves" turns to a more ambient sound, more of a sonic landscape. Quiet, toned-down and with a susurrus rustling in the background, the track adds another layer of style to the pianist's already considerable catalog of techniques.

Comparing At The Right Time with his previous two projects, there is a sense of growth and fine-tuning. Balancing Act (April Records, 2024) featured two different musical members, drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist Alexander Claffy. It also delivered something a bit different, an exploration the American Songbook alongside his own compositions. That team was the right choice for that album, and, cleverly, Sørensen finds the right team for his third release. At The Right Time exhibits a young musician moving forward with excitement but not with the unnecessary or immature haste of some anxious artists. Each track has something to chew on. It is a fabulous work that complements what Sørensen has already accomplished while further taking him into his own singular voice and burgeoning sound.

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