Iiro Rantala HEL trio: Tough Stuff

There has always been a hint of playfulness evident in the work of Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala. That was clear in his much-admired recordings with Trio Töykeät. That trio called it a day in 2006 after multiple worldwide tours and 20 years together. Since then, the multi-talented Rantala has been involved in a range of activities, including orchestral recordings, presenting TV comedies and music programs, pop, opera, rock, podcasts and a variety of jazz formats.

He has now returned to the piano-bass-drums format with the Iiro Rantala HEL trio and their album Tough Stuff. They are named after the international airport code for Helsinki, the point where many of their tours begin. Joining Rantala are Scandinavian drummer Anton Eger and English bassist Conor Chaplin, they form the rhythm section in Marius Neset's band. The closely aligned speed of thought they have developed makes the perfect match for Rantala's often restless approach.

The album opens with the fast-moving, funky workout of the title track. Rantala provides up-tempo, bluesy piano flurries with gospel tones, with Eger's tight, bustling drums to the fore. With Rantala, it is always best to expect the unexpected: the tight and hectic maneuvers of the high-speed "Tae Kwon Don't" somehow shapeshift into a tango, and "Das Handtuch" finds Rantala damping the piano strings to find different sounds against the intricate rhythms.

There are two tracks from the Trio Töykeät album Kudos (Universal, 2000). "Met By Chance" is fleshed out to become the joyous "Cabaret Perdu," featuring superb bass work from Chaplin alongside Rantala's classical-based piano explorations. A tribute to Richard Tee, "Gadd A Tee," maintains its catchy gospel roots and becomes the confidently grooving "Tee Four Three." Rantala also has a sensitive side. The charming "Second Date Waltz" flows with a sparkling melody and an uplifting delicacy of touch, while "A Lotta Love," dedicated to his wife, is a beautiful and graceful ballad enhanced by Chaplin's bass.

There is a touch of drama, perhaps slightly tongue in cheek, with the cinematic "Stockholm Syndrome," in which Rantala plays a darkly hypnotic pulse with his left hand and a memorable motif with his right. "Country and Eastern" is a delight with a fine solo from Chaplin while Rantala channels his inner Oscar Peterson with a flowing solo. The album closes with Jaco Pastorius' "Liberty City" from his album Word of Mouth (Warner Bros. 1981). The addition of Danish harmonica player Mathias Heise for this track is a masterstroke, as he melds perfectly with the trio in this soulful and exuberant finale.

Rantala sits at the top table of European pianists; he combines various styles from classical, burlesque, soul and gospel and threads them together in a triumphant display of jazz piano. He is superbly supported by Chaplin, who provides a lyrical and ever-inventive anchor, and Eger, whose drumming is an irresistible mix of the subtle and the explosive. This is certainly one of the piano trio albums of the year offering variety, virtuosity and that hint of playfulness that never forgets to surprise and entertain. Highly recommended.

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