Jacob Anderskov Trio: On The Loose

About five years ago, Danish pianist Jacob Anderskov spent a prolonged period in NYC, during which he developed an imaginative partnership with the versatile downtown bassist Michael Formanek. Resulting releases from a trio, rounded out by drummer Anders Morgensen, have been adventurous undertakings of original music. On the Loose continues that course with five extended, semi-structured pieces that are each set off by short, freer cuts.

The melodically accessible "Alibaba's Inauguration grabs hold with its pumping drum and bass and features Anderskov cross-handedly conversing with himself before Morgensen pulls all eyes of the assembled to his multi-rhythmic solo. A short cut to liberty then quickly attempts to "Runaway from organization as Formanek free arcos against a pianistic bass clef and propulsive drums. Anderskov greatly impresses with his imaginative chords that can be rhythmically independent from the melodic line, but still in sync. While such is the case on the nicely configured "What Roots, Anderskov also uses brief chordal punctuations as he elegantly develops the meditative theme of "Dedication Revisited.

A very pretty piano coupled with light drumming and a vocally beautiful bass arco introduce an "Exercise in Disguise. The trio tries on several different cadenced costumes before the tune's original appealing face is once again, albeit briefly, unmasked. Other short cuts revisit the overall premise by quietly rejoicing in the feeling of being "On Parole and repetitively counting down the moments while "Serving Time, until each member is free to have fun while being "On the Loose.

Things come to a close as the trio hesitatingly begins to navigate what at first appears to be a deserted "Tunesian Thorofare, only to find it, courtesy of Morgensen's direction, quite a busy boulevard. On the Loose is a celebration of musical freedom and creative composing.