Tord Gustavsen Trio: Changing Places

I never tire of listening to the masterful Tord Gustavsen in his various incarnations, this time with his trio composed of bassist Harald Johnsen and drummer Jarle Vespestad, Changing Places has been out since 2003 and seems new every time I play it. I listen and it is as if the world slows down and fades into the background. Like so much of Nordic jazz (which you should try if you have not had the pleasure—in addition to Norway's Gustavsen, I would recommend Iceland's Sunna Gunnlaugs and Finland's Joona Toivanen), the beauty is as much in the silences as it is in the sounds. Despite laid back, almost seductive tempos, this is anything but background music. The listener is invited inside the music and can marvel at the individual lines and harmonies as they move around you. Nowhere is this more evident than in the first track "Deep As Love" and the fourth track "Melted Butter" which have the power to bring my busy mind to a halt wherever I am. The final track "Song of Yearning"—a solo rendition of a full trio performance is breathtaking.