Leon Røsten is a young, Norwegian, Oslo-based pianist-composer, whose calm and somewhat melancholic melodic aesthetics are rooted in the 1970s, British songwriting tradition, with influences from modern jazz and classical impressionism. Cry Not To Laugh is the long-awaited debut album of Røsten Trio featuring double bass player Alf Høines (who played in Røsten Odyssey, Dystode, Øra Fonogram, 2021) and drummer Øystein Aarnes Vik. The album was recorded at Øra Studio in Trondheim in January 2024.

The music of this new trio reflects a great love and deep inspiration from seminal pianist-composers like Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Brad Mehldau. Røsten Trio enjoys a deep affinity and intimate dynamics that serve well the lyrical, melodic atmosphere of the album. The nine original compositions of Røsten capture a captivating performance of the trio that resonates emotionally and intellectually, for the body and the soul.

Røsten, just as in his Odyssey’s album, Dystode, is a generous bandleader. His compositions highlight the collective interplay of the trio and its reserved improvisations, driven by his commanding, dramatic, and song-like themes. The trio experiments with a brief ‘out’ dynamics on «Freedom Then», but is at its best in such clever, emotionally-playful ballads like the opening, title piece, «Tankeve», and «So This Is What Rejection Feels Like», or the Jarrett-tinged, groove-based pieces like «It’s Either Cyan Or Teal».

Eyal Hareuveni

Leon Røsten (piano), Alf Høines (double bass), Øystein Aarnes Vik (drums)