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Open Trio

This is modern Swedish jazz made by musicians knowing the pop-scene of today as much as the jazz tradition. This is jazz, but most of all music; lyrical, beautiful and swinging. Pianist Joakim Simonsson and his trio have worked together for over 10 years and are now in the middle of the creative process for their third album recording. Open Trio is a group of hard working musicians and the merit list from the last decade is of course long, both as a trio, but also for the three musicians individually. Alongside the trio, Joakim, Daniel and Pär-Ola has worked with most of the Swedish jazz-musicians and artists. This includes singers like Rigmor Gustafsson, Jeanette Lindström, Victoria Tolstoy and Lena Swanberg, Sofia Jannok and Sofia Karlsson as well as instrumentalists as Joakim Milder, Fredrik Ljungkvist, Bernt Rosengren and Karin Hammar just to mention a few. Since Open Trio’s first album (Saga – Colors, FYR002) came out in 2003, they’ve continued to develop a unique sound and first-class interplay.

Open Trio: Dinosaurs

Read "Dinosaurs" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
November 3, 2013

The Swedish Open Trio, headed by pianist Joakim Simonsson, has operated since 2000. Its third release (after Colors and Goodbye Everything, 2003 and 2008, both on Found you Recordings, the label that Simonsson runs) refers ironically to its longevity but fortunately not to its fresh and creative output. The trio still stresses its lyrical and highly melodic strong foundations. The group plays with a natural ease, confidence and elegance. Though Simonsson is the leader and the ...

”Their original tunes, contributed mostly by pianist Joakim Simonsson and double bassist Par-Ola Landin carry an atmosphere of cool, clear air typical to Scandinavian jazz and after six years together they’ve developed an understanding where any two players will go with the other’s flow… As the international jazz scene becomes increasingly populated with piano trios, it’s a struggle to be heard but their combination of understatement, vulnerability and quiet strength might just do it for these guys.” - The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland)

"One of Esbjörn Svenssons strongest qualities as a pianist is his ability always to invite the listener into his playing

"One of Esbjörn Svenssons strongest qualities as a pianist is his ability always to invite the listener into his playing. Joakim Simonsson has something similar - a calm and clear expression in the middle of a flow of notes and chords." - Dagens Nyheter
”Open Trio creates their music on a very Nordic musical foundation with an essential ingredient of improvisation, which sometimes rolls over to freeform jazz. But it's most of all very poetic, sometimes breathlessly beautiful but neither ingratiating nor saccharine...This is a very exciting debut album.” - Nerikes Allehanda "It’s the interplay of all three musicians (bass, drums and piano) that makes this special. All three players have terrific solos and when the group comes back together for the finale it’s simply thrilling." - Swedesplease.net
”Joakim Simonsson has a very distinct touch in his playing which sometimes reminds you of a master like Paul Bley...There's a rare sound and warmth in this trio. The different shapes of the music make it all a real listener adventure.” - Jazz Life
”By turns moody, joyous, exuberant, and somber, Open Trio plays jazz that mixes Scandinavian folk flavors, neoclassical influences, and free playing in an enticing way… If Open Trio continue to produce jazz of such emotional depth, exhilarating freedom, and memorable melodicism as they do on Färger, they certainly will be seeing me and, I suspect, many of you, tomorrow.” - All About Jazz

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