| Jazz |
Estonia has long occupied a discreet yet influential place on Europe’s musical map. Renowned for the rigor of its classical training, the country has also become an essential, if often uncredited, pillar of contemporary film music, with Estonian orchestras and musicians lending their precision and emotional clarity to countless cinematic scores. This deep-rooted culture of discipline, openness, and narrative sensibility has quietly shaped a new generation of artists working beyond traditional classical boundaries. Pianist and composer Rachel Talts is very much part of that lineage.
Talts’s music, by its very structure, unmistakably reflects a European perspective. Her compositions move fluidly between classical forms, pop accessibility, and folk-inflected lyricism, creating a musical language that feels at once sophisticated and inviting. There is a sense of balance in her work, between written detail and emotional openness, that places her in conversation with a broader Northern European jazz tradition, one that values atmosphere and storytelling as much as technical command. On this album, that vision is further enriched by the presence of guitarist Rob Luft, whose elegant phrasing and harmonic subtlety provide a supple counterpoint to Talts’s pianistic voice.
The album features an ambitious 7 compositions, all penned by Talts herself. It is her fourth release, and taken as part of her growing catalog, it reveals both continuity and transformation. A clear artistic thread connects this album to her debut, Gratitude, yet the evolution in her compositional writing is striking. Written over a year and a half following her move from Denmark to Lithuania, the music captures a period of transition, personal, geographical, and artistic. There is nostalgia here, but it is never static; it is paired with curiosity, motion, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
Several pieces function almost as emotional coordinates on a map. Pärnu, named after Talts’s hometown in Estonia, blends steady rhythmic frameworks with melodies that gradually unfold and shift, evoking memories of youth, return, and quiet rediscovery. Naujas Skyrius (“New Chapter” in Lithuanian) reflects the fragile optimism of new beginnings, shaped by both anticipation and uncertainty. In contrast, Jungle Party brings a burst of extroverted energy, a Latin-inspired, dance-driven groove originally written for the quartet’s 2024 tour of Southeast Asia. The piece radiates movement and collective joy, underscoring Talts’s growing interest in music designed to breathe and expand on stage.
Indeed, one of the album’s most compelling qualities lies in its performative dimension. While richly detailed in its arrangements, much of the material feels deliberately conceived for live settings. The rhythmic complexity never overwhelms the melodic core, allowing the music to remain immediate and communicative, qualities that translate particularly well to festival stages and concert halls.
Throughout the album, Talts’s talent for crafting memorable melodies is consistently foregrounded, often framed by intricate rhythmic patterns and carefully layered arrangements. As the listener moves from track to track, the impression is less that of a conventional album than of a personal narrative unfolding, a kind of musical travelogue shaped by places lived in, passed through, and imagined. This sense of storytelling has always been central to Talts’s work and is a defining feature of her artistic identity.
From her very first album, Talts has possessed a sound that is instantly recognizable. There is, quite simply, a Rachel Talts aesthetic: a distinct musical texture and emotional palette that sets her apart within the contemporary European jazz landscape. While her work may resonate with listeners familiar with other modern European jazz pianists, it remains firmly her own, rooted in personal experience rather than stylistic imitation.
Ultimately, this album feels like a sonic notebook of movement and reflection, shaped by travel, collaboration, and an increasing awareness of the stage as a space for shared experience. For listeners drawn to music that is both original and adventurous, this release comes highly recommended. It offers a genuine sense of displacement and discovery, warm, personal music that invites the listener not just to listen, but to journey along with it.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, December 15th 2025
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Musicians :
Rahel Talts (EE) – piano
Rob Luft (UK) – guitar
Donatas Petreikis (LT) – saxophone
Mariusz Praśniewski (PL) – double bass
Jesper Lørup (DK) – drums
Tracklisting :
PÄRNU
TIME FOR FUN
GOING BACK
AND FORTH
DISAPPOINTMENT
NAUJAS SKYRIUS
JUNGLE PARTY
Music composed by Rahel Talts
Album recorded and mixed by Andres Olema
Assistant recording engineer Anton Ventsel
Recorded at ERR studio, Tallinn, Estonia
Mastered by Normantas Ulevicius
Cover art by Kerttu Kruusla