Seven Days of Falling

2008年エスビョルン・スヴェンソンの不慮の事故により、その活動に突然のピリオドが打たれた伝説のジャズ・トリオ「E.S.T」。
"German Jazz Award" や"SwedishGrammy-award 2004"を受賞した2003年にリリースされた「Seven Days Of Falling」がTRANSPARENT GREEN 盤で登場。

Available for quite some time as an import before the tiny Philadelphia-based indie 215 Records finally released it stateside, complete with a bonus live DVD, 2003's Seven Days of Falling is every bit the equal of E.S.T.'s earlier records. Misguided American media comparisons to the highly overrated the Bad Plus have done pianist Esbjorn Svensson, bassist Dan Berglund, and drummer Magnus Ostrom a grave disservice, as their music is far more wide-ranging and much less gimmicky. Despite occasional forays into rock influences like "O.D.R.I.P." and a few brief passages that skirt the edges of outside free improv, there's an elegance and shapeliness to the trio's work that has more in common with the cerebral cool of Bill Evans (particularly on the quietly gorgeous opener "Ballad for the Unborn") or the effortless melodic grace of the Vince Guaraldi Trio ("Evening in Atlantis," "Believe, Beleft, Below"). Seven Days of Falling is a ravishingly beautiful, musically captivating album. Bonus track alert: hidden after the nervy "O.D.R.I.P." is the Sinatra-like ballad "Love Is Real," featuring guest vocals from Josh Haden, son of Charlie and brother of Petra. ~ Stewart Mason

スウェーデン国内ではポップス・チャートにランクインするほどの人気を誇る新世代ピアノ・トリオ、E.S.T.（エスビョルン・スヴェンソン・トリオ）の新作。今年は来日公演も果たし、スウェーデン、ヨーロッパの枠を越えて世界的な評価を獲得しつつある彼ら。ハードボイルドな雰囲気と深い情緒、涙が出るほどに澄みきった空気感を併せ持つサウンドが、クールなポップ感を放つ。さり気なく、あくまで自然体な傑作。
bounce (C)田辺 有朋