Strange Place for Snow

Esbjorn Svensson Trio, E.S.T. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 4, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000658AU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,686 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Message

2. Serenade For The Renegade

3. Strange Place For Snow

4. Behind The Yashmak

5. Bound For The Beauty Of The South

6. Years Of Yearning

7. When God Created The Coffeebreak

8. Spunky Sprawl

9. Carcrash

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Toeing a surprisingly fine line between acoustic-jazz accessibility and electronic-music ingenuity, E.S.T. (Esbjörn Svensson Trio) is a forward-thinking Swedish trio that adds subtle, dark ambient texture (and then some) to the traditional piano-trio format. As with the group's first Columbia release, Somewhere Else Before, there is a nice mix of well-constructed tunes with catchy, often-lilting melodies. The band is at its best when playing slow, contemplative ballads ("Serenade for the Renegade" is a highlight) that have the same kind of romantic leanings as pianist Bill Evans, yet the three occasionally pick up momentum on tunes like "Behind the Yashmak," without ever abandoning the song's lyricism. The trio also does other things to keep it fresh: they bring in some simple folk music balladry, add some classical music complexity, and even touch on the creeping influence of electro rock à la Radiohead. Strange Place for Snow should add a lot of new American voices to the deafening roar that surrounds this band in Europe. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relentless Energy, May 16, 2005

By 

ROGER L. FOREMAN (Bath, Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange Place for Snow (Audio CD)

E.S.T. has quickly moved themselves up into my top two or three most "listened to" piano-based trios (Keith Jarrett will hold that top spot for a long, long time). They play with energy that few others bring to the table without resorting to just plain being loud. I love The Bad Plus, but they rely on the loud part more; I've just discovered Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, and they bring a lot to the table, too. Medeski, Martin & Wood are much more electric and abstract than E.S.T. I love Keith Jarrett, solo and with his trio, but that's a different kind of energy going on. Tord Gustavsen is so ECM-cool, and Lynne Arriale is less cutting-edge than these guys. Fred Hersch bring a whole different sound into the mix--much more traditional.

These guys, E.S.T., sell me with their spectacular pacing, working and building up sometimes repeated themes to almost a manic crescendo at times. Track 4, "Behind the Yashmak," is the perfect example. Nice slow beginning, but, at about 2:15 or so, the pace picks up, and we are off on an 8-minute "race" that gradually picks up speed, energy, and intensity. The ending is just spectacular--great payoff for my patience through 10+ minutes of the song. The left hand on Track 7, "When God Created the Coffeebreak" is one of the more impressive pieces of playing that I can think of off the top of my head. Track 8, "Spunky Sprawl," brings a similar feel to the table. Track 9, "Carcrash," reminds me of Karl Shapiro's poem "Auto Wreck"--a horrible image masked in soft sounds and pleasant "language."

The other thing that impresses me about these guys is the importance and prominence of the "other" two instruments in the trio. The piano might be in the lead much of the time, but the bass takes over a couple of tracks, as do the drums. They are all willing to share the spotlight and be three very equal sides of the triangle that another reviewer spoke of.

Bottom Line: I have no idea why these guys did not catch on in the U.S. better than they have, but it's our loss. They are as good as anybody else going out there and deserve a look/listen. I have gone back and purchased their early titles (From Gagarin's Point of View, Good Morning Susie Soho, Plays Monk, and several more) from a Swedish distributor (Skivhugget Records) for great prices. The CD after this one, Seven Days of Falling, is in the ball park and now comes with a bonus DVD that is pretty cool (the entire DVD is available only for play on non-U.S. DVD players. . .). Their very newest, Viaticum, is probably five-star material, as well, but I'm still getting to know it. If you like Jarrett, Bad Plus, MMW, JFJO, and/or Brad Mehldau, then you should like this crew. Buy one used and go from there. . . .

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air!, July 7, 2004

By 

Gregory A. Rice "uncageg2" (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange Place for Snow (Audio CD)

I first heard this trio in 2003 at the Denver Botanic Gardens when they opened for K.D. Lang. As big of a fan of K.D.'s as I am, this band made the biggest impression that evening. As they played, I got up and walked the gardens until their set was almost done. I was in my own little world! These guys have taken jazz and put a slight twist on it. A very nice and refreshing one. I bought this CD from one of the band members right after their set. I plan to own more of their music. If you like Jazz at all (And I would say if you are a Pat Metheney fan) Get this CD as well as their CD "Seven Days of Falling". (Which I can't find on this site!)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant new style "old style" jazz..., May 22, 2003

By 

nicjaytee (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strange Place for Snow (Audio CD)

If you thought there wasn't much left to explore in "old style" contemporary jazz then think again for E.S.T.'s "Strange Place for Snow" is exactly what its title suggests - something beautifully familiar in a very different landscape. Working off a standard piano, double bass & drum acoustic line-up and carefully constraining their "explorations" within the well-proven structures that work with it, they conjure up that most difficult of things: something radically new from a conventional format.

With more than a passing nod to Bill Evans' evocatively lilting piano style, backed up by some wonderful bass and drum playing, they mix-in odd electronic hooks and surprisingly powerful melodic structures without losing the laid-back feel of this essentially romantic style of music. Clever?... yes, but not too-clever and, as a result, brilliantly restrained and wholly effective. Another example, alongside Bugge Wesseltoft's and Jaga Jazzist's more avant-garde outings, of the quite extraordinary jazz that is now pouring out of Scandinavia.