MUSIC REVIEW BY Mike Gates, UK Vibe
4-STARS There's a quiet confidence running through "Embrace" that comes from musicians who know instinctively when to push and when to listen. Bassist Mattias Svensson has long been one of the understated anchors of Scandinavian jazz - many will know his work with the Jan Lundgren Trio - and this project feels like a natural extension of that lineage, enriched by the presence of two masterful collaborators.
Svensson first crossed paths with pianist Bill Mays back in 2009 during a studio session in Japan, and that initial spark clearly never faded. Reuniting years later in Copenhagen with drummer Morten Lund, his longtime trio partner with Lundgren, Svensson has assembled a group that thrives on intuition and trust. The results are delightful: some wonderful playing throughout, and moments of genuine surprise that keep the listener alert.
From the opening "My Toots Toots (For Toots)", a delicately swinging waltz dedicated to Toots Thielemans, the trio establishes its conversational tone. Nothing is rushed, nothing overstated. Svensson's compositions leave generous space, and Mays inhabits it with imagination and wit, playing - as has often been said of him - as though technical limitations are long forgotten. His touch is light, playful and deeply musical, whether shaping lyrical lines or darting into unexpected harmonic corners.
Morten Lund's drumming is a masterclass in subtle propulsion. He rarely raises his voice, but his rhythmic choices constantly nudge the music forward, particularly on the propulsive "Shagit" and the cleverly unfolding "Steps (Ahead)." There's an elastic sense of time here that keeps the trio gently on edge, enhancing the album's sense of discovery.
Svensson's bass sits at the centre of it all: warm-toned, melodic and quietly authoritative. Pieces such as "Tomorrow's Trickster" and "A Shorter Way" reveal his knack for writing themes that feel both thoughtful and unforced. Even the nods to childhood TV themes - including "Theme from Emmerdale" and "LÃĪngtar till Fredag" - are treated with affection rather than novelty, fitting seamlessly into the album's flow.
Recorded over three days in 2022, "Embrace" sounds relaxed but never casual. It's music made by musicians who enjoy each other's company, who listen deeply, and who swing with intelligence and heart. Not flashy, not bombastic - just beautifully played modern trio jazz that rewards the listener's close attention.
Svensson first crossed paths with pianist Bill Mays back in 2009 during a studio session in Japan, and that initial spark clearly never faded. Reuniting years later in Copenhagen with drummer Morten Lund, his longtime trio partner with Lundgren, Svensson has assembled a group that thrives on intuition and trust. The results are delightful: some wonderful playing throughout, and moments of genuine surprise that keep the listener alert.
From the opening "My Toots Toots (For Toots)", a delicately swinging waltz dedicated to Toots Thielemans, the trio establishes its conversational tone. Nothing is rushed, nothing overstated. Svensson's compositions leave generous space, and Mays inhabits it with imagination and wit, playing - as has often been said of him - as though technical limitations are long forgotten. His touch is light, playful and deeply musical, whether shaping lyrical lines or darting into unexpected harmonic corners.
Morten Lund's drumming is a masterclass in subtle propulsion. He rarely raises his voice, but his rhythmic choices constantly nudge the music forward, particularly on the propulsive "Shagit" and the cleverly unfolding "Steps (Ahead)." There's an elastic sense of time here that keeps the trio gently on edge, enhancing the album's sense of discovery.
Svensson's bass sits at the centre of it all: warm-toned, melodic and quietly authoritative. Pieces such as "Tomorrow's Trickster" and "A Shorter Way" reveal his knack for writing themes that feel both thoughtful and unforced. Even the nods to childhood TV themes - including "Theme from Emmerdale" and "LÃĪngtar till Fredag" - are treated with affection rather than novelty, fitting seamlessly into the album's flow.
Recorded over three days in 2022, "Embrace" sounds relaxed but never casual. It's music made by musicians who enjoy each other's company, who listen deeply, and who swing with intelligence and heart. Not flashy, not bombastic - just beautifully played modern trio jazz that rewards the listener's close attention.