Mikko Innanen / Cedric Piromalli / Stefan Pasborg: Can You Hear It?

In the world of jazz, where the unexpected often becomes the standard, the sophomore album from the international trio of Mikko Innanen, Stefan Pasborg and Cedric Piromalli, aptly named Can You Hear It?, plays like a delightful curveball that even seasoned jazz aficionados didn't see coming. This album is to conventional jazz what a saxophone solo is to a quiet library—utterly captivating and wonderfully out of place.

Imagine if the Hammond organ got bored of its usual gigs and decided to take a backpacking trip across the musical universe, picking up souvenirs from funk, blues, and even the outer reaches of avant-garde. That's Piromalli for you, whose fingers must surely dance across the keys in hiking boots. Then there's Innanen, wielding his saxophone like a sonic Swiss Army knife, cutting through genres with the precision of a gourmet chef. And Pasborg? His drumming is the kind of rhythmic thunderstorm one would stand outside for, just to feel the energy.

The track "Pratch" is a groovy time machine, blending the soul of yesteryear with a dash of tomorrow's seasoning, while "070520" feels like a bop-infused joyride through a musical metropolis. "Folk Man" brings the listener back to earth with its bluesy roots, only for "Messy Mass" to whisk us away into the shadows with its mysterious vibe. And "Roy's Message"? It is the musical equivalent of finding an unexpected path in the forest that leads to a previously undiscovered vista.

This is not just a standard vanilla album; it is a musical riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, all set to a jazz score. It dares listeners to not just hear but listen—really listen—and those who accept the challenge are rewarded with a sonic journey that is as unpredictable as it is satisfying. It is a conversation across continents and genres, a celebration of what happens when artists refuse to play by the rules.