Bobo Stenson Trio: Serenity (ECM 1740/ 41 314 543 611-2).

Bobo Stenson Trio: Serenity (ECM 1740/ 41 314 543 611-2)

Swedish pianist Bobo Stenson is one of the original ECM recording artists, and has a number of releases to his credit both as sideman (particularly noteworthy are the five Charles Lloyd recordings on which Stenson played piano) and leader. His previous trio recordings have been excellent, but Serenity is the best yet. This two-disc set (priced at approximately 1.5 times a single CD) contains a bit more than 90 minutes of probing, haunting, but always satisfying music. Besides tunes penned by members of the trio, there are tunes by musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Alban Berg (!), and even American composer Charles Ives (!!), to whom the title cut, "Serenity," is credited. Tempos tend to be on the slow side throughout, with the overall effect of the recording truly being one of serenity; however, this is the serenity that comes through striving, the serenity of the artist or scientist engaged in the act of creation and discovery. Sound quality is excellent, making this a most desirable recording indeed. -- KWN