| Jazz |
You had to dare but as nobody else seems to have done it before, this trio and their very Nordic sense of humour did twenty years ago and called themselves MusicMusicMusic. Probably, since they are a trio, they decided to repeat the word Music three times. Would a septet or an octet have had the same nerve, repeating the word Music seven or eight times in a row?
MusicMusicMusic was formed in 2003 and the members of the trio have remained the same since: Fabian Kallerdahl, piano, Michael Edlund, drums, and Josef Kallerdahl, double bass. In 2004 their debut album “One Two Free” was an immediate success and the trio got the nickname “the first garage jazz band of Sweden”.
Since then, the three friends have lined up concerts and albums, until this last record, “Just a gigolo”, which marks a new stage in MMM’s creativity (sorry, but MMM is quicker to say and write than MusicMusicMusic). An MMM jazz band that has nothing in common with the Korean pop group Mamamoo (also MMM) or the Swedish progressive rock group Mecki Mark Men (called MMM for short).
After 20 years of groundbreaking music, MMM is something of an institution in Swedish jazz. With this album, the trio offers us a rich and nuanced emotional experience by exploiting with finesse and talent the expressive possibilities of each of the three musicians.
The 6 pieces composed by the pianist (out of the 8 on this opus) reflect a personal aesthetic, mixing modern and classical harmonies on engaging melodic lines, leaving enough room for the interpretation of the other two members of the trio, as ‘CP70’, the first track, demonstrates so well.
With Josef Kallerdahl, the double bass is not only rhythmic, but also melodic. It envelops, bewitches, but also serves as a guideline and backbone to the trio, allowing the pianist and drummer to play their part in creating their own feelings and sensations.
Teamed with the double bass, Michael Edlund’s drums transcend the role of accompanying instrument by becoming a rhythmic and dynamic narrator. These two instruments, too often confined to being a rhythm section, adapt here to the mood of each piece by multiplying the contrasts. Both react to the pianist’s playing on the ivories, adding unexpected accents or calculated silences.
The piano enriches the eight tracks by exploring harmonic flights, playing with contrasts between dense chords and more airy passages and exploring different emotions, transmitting melancholy, joy or serenity.
Fabian Kallerdahl on piano creates ambiances that range from intimate to vibrant, modulating the emotional intensity of each of his compositions. It anchors the trio in a lively and organic pulsation, while leaving space for the double bass and the drums.
Second title of this album, ‘Just a Gigolo’ (a piece which of course doesn’t need to be introduced, composed by Leonello Casucci in 1928 as a tango) illustrates in the most beautiful manner the talent that this trio can offer, adapting a well-known title and giving it another light, another dimension, another radiation. A superb adaptation which deserves to give its name to this MMM album.
The only track which we feel falls a little short is the adaptation of ‘Winter Wonderland’ which closes this opus and whose presence we are not sure we understand… but perhaps the presence of this track at the end of the album is so we think that yes, ultimately, this MMM trio is truly a real “garage jazz band of Sweden”.
But let’s repeat it again, here is a jazz trio that excels in the art of musical space. Double bass, piano and drums know how to use silence and waiting for the moments to create a festive, explosive, or more contemplative atmosphere. The total complicity between the three instrumentalists offers the listener a space to fully feel each note and each nuance, transporting them into a unique emotional universe.
Each Fabian Kallerdahl’s composition has a particular personality. It can be felt as a narrative, inspired by personal experiences, landscapes or specific emotions. Pieces that can alternate between calm and explosive, enjoyable moments.
The excellent mixing highlights the natural interactions between the three musicians and amplifies the feeling of immersion within this trio.
The interaction between the three musicians, their respect for each other’s musical space and the richness of the compositions contribute to creating a work that resonates with the listener well beyond the notes.
Frankie Pfeiffer
Editor in chief – PARIS-MOVE
PARIS-MOVE, November 28th 2024
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