If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Admirers of Tord Gustavsen’s breakthrough series of trio albums beginning with the inspired ECM debut, Changing Places in 2003, will find much to please them in this very enjoyable continued return to the format. His tenth album for the label once again features new bassist Steinar Raknes and regular drummer and musical partner since the beginning, Jarle Vespestad. The repertoire consists of five original Gustavsen compositions, two adaptations of Bach chorales, and two hymns, the Norwegian ‘Jesus, gjor meg stille’ and ‘Nearer My God, To Thee’, the latter composed by Sarah Flower Adams in 1841, whose lyrics (not included in this instrumental version) retell the story of Jacob’s Ladder. So far, so Gustavsen.
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