The Finnish piano trio Joona Toivanen Trio – Gothenburg-based pianist Joona Toivanen, his younger brother, Copenhagen-based double bass player Tapani Toivanen, and their childhood friend, Helsinki-baed drummer Olavi Louhivuori (of Superposition, Ilmiliekki Quartet, and Linda Fredriksson Juniper) – is one of the longest-running trios of Nordic jazz, working since 1997 and establishing an intelligent, lyrical aesthetics of its own as well as a deeply intimate, telepathic dynamics.

Gravity expands even further the profound and rare synergy of this unique trio. You can sense immediately the accumulated experiences and strong, individual personalities of the Toivanen brothers and Louhivuori, as well as their affinity, playfulness, and wisdom in taking risks and exploring more sonic possibilities. With such tight, long-standing dynamics, it was only natural to credit the three musicians with the 12 new pieces.

But Gravity is even more special. It was recorded at the time when the trio had doubts if it should continue playing as a trio. During a Finnish tour, the trio managed to use a two-day hole, which, was too short a time to travel home, for a studio session at the countryside Lammaskallion Audio in Tuusula. The trio recorded whatever came into its mind, enjoying what the studio could offer – a beautiful old Steinway upright piano, tribal drums, a toy piano, old organs, and synths – with no rush or real plan of what to do with the recording.

Gravity sounds like an intimate sonic diary, full of immediate, fresh, and often haunting impressions and insights, radiating the unhurried joy of experimenting and exploration. This trio is still deeply rooted in the Nordic jazz legacy but its sonic vision is much more ambitious beyond the classic piano-bass-drums-idiom. It sounds like the Joona Toivanen Trio reinvents itssewlf anew, with newly found inspirations.

Eyal Hareuveni

Joona Toivanen (piano), Tapani Toivanen (double bass), Olavi Louhivuori (drums)