Like so many American players, Sweden's Esbjorn Svensson has backed his share of pop artists but is essentially a jazz improviser at heart. Svensson's enthusiasm for improvisation came through loud and clear on his Dragon dates of the 1990s, one of which was the decent When Everybody Has Gone. Backed by fellow Swedes Dan Berglund (bass) and Magnus Ostrom (drums), Svensson favors the piano trio format and draws on post-bop influences like Chick Corea, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett on the standard "Stella By Starlight" and originals ranging from the pensive "4 a.m." to the melancholy "Waltz for the Lonely Ones" and the Middle Eastern-influenced "Mohammed Goes to New York." Much of Svensson's work tends to be introspective and impressionistic, but things get surprisingly funky and almost Horace Silver-ish on "Tough Tough." This CD was released by the Stockholm-based Dragon label, but made its way to some U.S. stores as an import. - Alex Henderson
Tracks
01. When Everyone Has Gone
02. Fingertrip
03. Free Four
04. Stella By Starlight
05. 4 Am
06. Mohammed Goes To New York, Part 1
07. Mohammed Goes To New York, Part 2
08. Waltz For The Lonely Ones
09. Silly Walk
10. Tough Tough
11. Hands Off
ESBJÖRN SVENSSON piano, electric piano, synthesizers
DAN BERGLUND double bass
MAGNUS ÖSTRÖM drums, percussion, vocals
All music composed by Esbjörn Svensson, except (4) by
Recorded in Copenhagen, July & Sep. 1993
DRAGON DRCD 248