Lightning Trio: Lightning

Lightning is the debut album from the Norway group Lightning Trio, which comprises pianist / synthesizer player Sondre Moshagen, double bassist Kertu Aer and drummer Steinar Heide Bo, who first met one another at the jazz program in Trondheim, Norway, in autumn 2022. After participating in 2024's Jazzintro launch program, the trio was named Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024 at the Molde Jazz Festival; in their citation, the judges praised the trio's "clear and compelling group chemistry" as well as their "strong individual voices, marked by finesse and maturity," judgments with which it is impossible to argue. Two of the tracks on Lightning, "McQueen's Disco" and "Past" were released as singles before Lightning being released and were both highly praised.

Unsurprisingly, pianist Moshagen is the leader of the trio as he wrote all the compositions except for "Jetsam" and "Lagan," which were written by Kit Downes, who was also the producer of the album. On the album sleeve's spine, the trio is referred to as "Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio," a title which other commentators have adopted, but not all. In addition, the pianist also painted the cover art and wrote the sleeve notes. In her way, Kertu Aer doubtless attracts as much attention as Moshagen himself does, because she joins an ever-increasing list of first-rate female double bassists; her playing fits in with the pianist's playing and with Steinar Heide Bo's drumming so that every note sounds perfectly judged. Altogether, it is easy to hear why those judges awarded the prize to the whole trio rather than selecting one member alone.

The combination of seven Moshagen compositions with two of Downes' adds variety to the music, as does flautist Ketija Ringa Karahona (from Latvia but resident in Amsterdam since 2019) joining the trio on three tracks, the opener "Flotsam," "Past" and the closer "Lagan." Taken as a whole, Lightning is one of those albums that cries out to be played again as soon as it has finished. It seems likely to appeal to anyone who has enjoyed a piano trio, be that by Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, The Bad Plus or elsewhere. Roll on their next album...