Mads Vinding Trio: Six Hands Three Minds One Heart

This Danish trio, led by veteran bassist Mads Vinding, also features the veteran drummer Alex Riel and the younger, up-and-coming pianist Carsten Dahl. Recorded on a single evening in June 1999 at Copenhagen’s Jazzhouse, the disc unfolds like a well-crafted story. The trio takes "I Hear a Rhapsody," "All Blues," and "Autumn Leaves" all at a nice gallop, showcasing Dahl’s monstrous chops and angular harmonic sense. But this is more than mere blowing. Not only is there highly sensitive communication between the players, but they often move from one number to the next by means of subtle preludes and segues. It’s a simple idea, but a fairly unusual one, giving the trio an opportunity to go "off-road" and improvise their way back into a form. The group uses this approach to set up "Autumn Leaves," "Blue In Green" (the second piece drawn from Kind of Blue ), and the Danish song "Den Blå Anemone." Dahl’s tender, folk-like ballad "Salme Ved Vejs Ende," is also a highlight, as is the closing, no-frills reading of "I Can’t Get Started." This aptly titled disc proves that straight-ahead is in good hands on the other side of the Atlantic.