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When you’ve already got a jazz trio that last year released an album that the New York Times acclaimed as “best jazz album 2009” (check out Historicity by the Vijay Iyer Trio; plus Iyer’s latest Solo whilst you’re at it), it’s seems almost greedy to have another fantastic trio album out with 12 months on the same label.

However, ACT’s boss (Soggi Loch) and trios go back a long way, particularly with EST but also [em] as he recalls being handed a demo CD of their at the 2004 JazzBaltica Festival. So as JazzBaltica celebrated its 20th Birthday and pianist Michael Wollny was the ‘Artist In Residence’, what better opportunity to record an increasing rare performance of the [em] trio (completed by bassist Eva Kruse and drummer Eric Schaefer).

Live albums are notoriously hit and miss, particularly live jazz ones. But no issues here as the recording is as good as a studio recording and it’s the complete concert (except for the applause has been shortened, “for listening pleasure” (hmm..not sure what that means but it seems to work out)

This is their fourth album, following on from Call It [em], [em] II] and [em] 3, which all won accolades in Germany, France and the UK. And whilst founded by Kruse, it became clear the band are a trio, hence the unusual name. And what with their individual careers taking off, Live was recorded as much out of necessity to keep the group going (but you’d never guess these guys weren’t gigging every night as they are so tight and perfect).

The first four tracks have been previously released and if you’ve recently listened to Pete Slavid on UK Jazz Radio (see links below) you’ll have heard him play ‘Break It’, ‘Gorilla Biscuits’ and ‘In Water’ in recent weeks) so you’ll be excited and ready to get you your hands on this CD.

As good as those three are, ‘Shelley’ (a tribute to Mary Shelley perhaps?) is awesomely grand, urgent and stunning. ‘Phlegma Phighter’, a homage to the rock band of the same name (don’t be put off) is similarly angular but hard and a little more spacious at the same time. There’s a distinct ‘rock’ mindset going on at times: EST and Nguyên Lê (he of Signature Edition 1 and Saiyuk to name just two) I hear you say? But then, in contrast, at times it could also be almost scored for a silent movie (I love the rolling piano of Wollny when he’s in the mood) or 60s jazz club chase scene.

‘Kiyoshi’ is a distinct move to the dramatic and minimal but they return to almost ELP intensity on ‘In Water’ (this isn’t a gentle stream more like the upper reaches of a river in flood) along with ‘Etude No.1’ and the avant-jazz ‘Gorilla Biscuits’ - Rock On! (that got heads turning at Jazz Chronicles on Saturday and ‘Phlegma Phighter’ would have done the same!)

The only downside to this one is the rather unimaginative cover but that aside, yet another magnificent album proving that modern contemporary jazz is a hot vein of form at ACT - long may it continue - young German jazz at its best.

Reviewed: [em] - Live (Wollny Kruse Schaefer) (ACT) Cat. No. ACT 9668-2 Release date: 4th October 2010 Notes: Recorded by the NDR live at JazzBaltica, Salzeu, July 4th 2010.
Tracklisting:
1. Blüten (4:23)
2. Shelley (3:50)
3. Phlegma Pighter (8:53)
4. Sov Lilla Alma (3:39)
5. Kiyoshi (4:34)
6. In Water (3:33)
7. Etude No. 1 (3:38)
8. Arsene Somnambule (5:41)
9. Gorilla Biscuits (5:02)
10. Break It (4:14)

Links:
www.myspace.com/wollnykruseschaefer
ericschaefer.de
Echo Deutscher Musikpress - Jazz label of the year 2010
actmusic.com
Pete Slavid on UK Jazz Radio - The show goes out Wednesday 9pm and is repeated at midnight, then Thursday 1pm; Friday 4am and 12noon; Saturday 8am and 5pm; Sunday 6pm; Monday 2pm; Tuesday 3pm; and finally on Wednesday at 1am. Check ukjazzradio.com/schedules.html for latest details
22nd Sept 2010
‘Break It’ from live at jazzbaltica by [em] (2010: ACT)
15th Sept 2010
‘Phlegma Pighter’, ‘Gorilla Biscuits’ both from live at jazzbaltica by [em] (2010: ACT)
‘Epistrophy’ from Vijay Iyer - Solo (2010: ACT)
1st Sept 2010
The Blessing’, ‘A Map Of The Sky’ both from The Cusp by Robert Mitchell’s Panacea (2010: Edition)
Jazz Chronicles with Simon S, Martin Gordon and Gerry Hectic every first Saturday of the month - next up: Saturday, 6th November at 3:00pm @ Sixty Million Postcards, Bournemouth
www.myspace.com/60millionpostcards