Customer Reviews

Unforgettable Nhop Trio Live (Dig)

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This cd celebrates the music of Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen and his superlative trio from two concerts;one in Copenhagen in 1999,the other in Hamburg in 2005.

The recital opens with a transcription by NHOP of a passage from one of J.S.Bach s cello suites which leaves me with a desire to hear more of this level of artistry.Bach is seemlessly followed by a fleeting and intospective "Memories" in which NHOP and Wakenius weave their music with restraint and imagination.

As a brisk bossa nova,in the form of "The Song is you" comes to an end,Wakenius launches into his own compostion "Lines".Underpinned by NHOP s driving bass,Johansen is given more room to respond to the electrifying guitar solo.

"Nightingale..." receives a beautifully wistful interpretation.NHOP plays with clarity and expressiveness and Wakenius creates a tender and intelligent solo.The nostalgic mood is then transformed by a muscular and swinging version of "You and the night...".

The Hamburg concert takes up the remainder of the cd and consists of several old NHOP favourites."Suede Shoes",if not quite so dextrous as an earlier version with pianist Kenny Drew,is given a bright and lively outing.The Danish folk song "I Skovens Dybbe Stille Ro" (my favourite from this cd) is exquisitely played with an evocative serenity and it then eases into a second Scandinavian folk song "Jeg Gik Mig Ud En Sommerdaeg" in which intricate bass playing is superceded by a wonderful guitar solo which builds to a powerful climax and concludes with a feeling which,to me,seems to be "descending weightlessness".

The concert is brought to an end with a relaxed and smiling version of "Love is here to stay".The Great Dane is no longerf with us but for the music which he created over the decades and his work in more recent years with Ulf Wakenius and Jonas Johansen,could the last title from his last concert be more appropriate?

So hard to believe that NHOP is gone. Yet, this is such a fitting testament. The artistry on this CD is stunning. Pour a drink some evening; sit back on a recliner; and play this. There are musicians here enjoying the hell out of each other. RIP, NHOP.

So far I have only listened to it once and to say that it is different, to what I had expected, would be an understatement, but as I am an keen admirer of NHOP I am sure that it will soon be one of my favourites. I am not qualified to comment on it's musical content only that it appeals to me greatly.