dahl/andersen/heral: Moon Water

Meditative moods dominate Moon Water (Stunt), by the cooperative Danish/Norwegian/French trio of Carsten Dahl, Arild Andersen and Patrice Heral. But Moon Water is lit with quiet fires of energy that come from its attitude of in-the-moment openness. Four of the 12 pieces appear to be spontaneous group improvisations, but the eight originals by band members also feel freely discovered in real time.

As a pianist, Dahl sustains the album’s rapt spell even as his tones and intensities and velocities vary, from the delicately traced melodicism of his own “Hymne” to the sweeps and flurries of “Rush Brush.” Throughout, bassist Andersen again demonstrates that he is one of the most poignant storytellers in jazz on his instrument. An unusual feature of Moon Water is the selective application of electronics and wordless vocals, mostly the work of drummer Heral. These sounds are never intrusive, always belong and subtly shift the traditional tonal palette of the piano trio.

Originally Published June 1, 2005