Danish, Aarhus-based  guitarist Alex Jønsson third album as a bandleader suggests a fine perspective of him as a commanding composer-musician. This live album, recorded in a house concert on a spring day in March 2016, presents Jønsson leading his trio – double bass player Jens Mikkel Madsen and drummer Andreas Skamby, all three are the backbone of Madsen’s I Think You’re Awesome sextet – performing tunes from his previous albums «The Lost Moose» (2013) and «Spy On Your Friends» (2015).

Jønsson trio play as tight, organic flowing unit, stressing its emphatic, balanced interplay and delivering Jønsson original compositions with a patient and unassuming sense of lyricism and storytelling. The trio creates a natural atmosphere of intimacy where the music unfolds in a gentle and almost effortless manner. Jønsson loose compositions revolve around a strong melodic core, sometimes even a haunting theme, that manages to grow on the listener with every new listening.

Pieces like «Niðaróss» and «War and Peace» suggest dramatic, nuanced cinematic narratives, the latter even surprises with its rare angry tone that pushes the trio outside its loose comfort zone. Other pieces «Et deilig land å reise fra» or «Puzzle» capture concise, emotional experiences that radiate its moving impact in a manner  that sneaks up on the listener. My only complaint: why this album is so short?

Eyal Hareuveni

Alex Jønsson (g), Jens Mikkel Madsen (b,; Andreas Skamby (dr)