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Stefan Orins Trio — The Middle Way
(Circum-Disc , 2017, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2017-11-05

The Middle Way Cover art

As an organic jazz unit, the trio of Stefan Orins (piano), Christophe Hache (double-bass) and Peter Orins (drums) has been together a good twenty years now, with five releases to their credit. Same guys, no changes. The material, courtesy of Stefan, has a natural and smooth melodic flow, full of brilliance and color, light and dark shades, contrasts and dynamic power. Yet it’s clear that what makes their music shine is the interpretation of these works by the full trio, is . Hache is the support and offers counterpoint to the piano throughout all of the album’s nine tracks, where Peter Orins’ drumming is constantly pushing and pulling the arrangements into differing directions to keep every piece on The Middle Way moving and salient. And each of these guys gets the occasional solo spotlight as well, but for the most part this is a group directed effort in service to the compositions. The feeling throughout is very free and ever-changing, as if these were seeded improvisations open to elements of composition, moving forward with grace, beauty and sparkle, gentle and relaxing, while at the same time streaming power from inside. The listener will no doubt be reminded of the greater ECM school, folks like Bobo Stenson, Charlie Haden, Keith Jarrett, and the like, who one can be reasonable certain are stylistic influences here, although Stefan Orins is the creator of his own world.

Filed under: New releases, 2017 releases

Related artist(s): Stefan Orins

 

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