Live - Serenade For The Renegade

This some of the most captivating music I've heard for a long time. It pulls you in. It's hard to listen to this and think that music this textured can be made by only three people. Dan Berglund's contrabass is solid and driving throughout, but towards the end when he begins to play with a bow the whole piece takes a step forward, just another example of why the Esbjörn Svensson Trio were some of the greatest modern jazz musicians and what a whole Esbjörn Svensson's death leaves in music. His piano playing on this recording is, as always, phenomenal, creating the atmosphere for the music, weaving his playing with his band mates to create something outstanding. Magnus Öström's percussion is the final part of the track, he plays the drums with brushes. Like all good percussionists his playing is the backbone of the music, he manages to play subtly with brushes but doesn't lapse into anything other than relentless drumming. Relentless may be the best word to describe this performance, it grabs you and doesn't let go.

Serenade For The Renegade (mp3) - Esbjörn Svensson Trio, live in 2003.