Jasper Høiby’s 3Elements: Conversations of Hope

Copenhagen-born, London-based bassist Jasper Høiby has always followed a distinctive musical path. Conversations Of Hope marks the third release in his 3Elements trio project, an evolving series that focuses on his work as a composer and bandleader. For each album, Høiby assembles a new trio lineup, allowing fresh perspectives and interplay to shape the music.

Høiby first came to international attention as the founder of Phronesis. Formed in 2005, this influential group challenged expectations of the modern piano trio, earning widespread acclaim and appearing in numerous Top 100 album charts. A decade of touring and album releases cemented his reputation as a forward-thinking leader. He brings that experience to bear on this release, collaborating with two exceptional Spanish musicians, pianist Xavi Torres and drummer Naima Acuna.

The excellent opening track, "Consider The Balance," immediately establishes their bass-centered approach as Høiby's agile lines are joined by pulsing piano and skittering drums. The track's driving intensity and tightly-woven interplay may remind listeners of Avishai Cohen's trio work on their album Gently Disturbed (Razdaz Records, 2008), with Acuña powering the music forward beneath a series of thrilling exchanges and solos.

Throughout the album, rhythmic momentum is shared among the trio, giving a hard-hitting dynamic tension to many of the tracks. "High Sky" is another highlight. Torres uses repetitive keyboard phrases, which build an underlying hypnotic effect that gradually intensifies into a dramatic, fleet-fingered solo. Høiby responds with rapid, incisive lines before the indefatigable Acuña adds her drum flurries to round out an enthralling trio exploration.

Repetitive piano phrases and cyclical bass lines form the relaxing foundation of the title track, building patiently to a superb bass solo. The same cyclical texture resurfaces in "Safe Passage," though here the track escalates to a wall of sound featuring drum rolls and thrashing cymbals. The urgency carries over into "Breathing," where the band moves from delicate melodic ideas to fierce, crackling interplay.

Elsewhere, Torres' recurring piano motif unfolds into a melody as the band shows the gentler side of their improvisational chemistry on "The Sound Air Makes," with Høiby delivering another terrific solo. "Alight With Fire" uses a folky refrain as an opening for cascading piano runs, driving bass and dynamic drumming.

Torres and Acuña are an ideal fit, bringing a palpable physical poise to their improvisations and shared interplay. The band name reflects Høiby's passion for the components of a piano trio and, with this release, he has sharpened the clarity of his musical thinking. The result is an album that is full of twists and turns with masterful changes in melody, time signature and space from a bandleader performing at the very top of his game.