Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground is the second album of the trio of Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser, French guitarist Marc Ducret and Danish drummer Peter Brunn that was formed in 2009, following the debut, live Taktlos Zürich 2017 (hatOLOGY, 2018). This limited edition of 300 10’’ blue vinyl (with download option) was recorded during a tour in the United Kingdom at the renowned Steve Winwood’s Wincraft Music Studios in Hazleton, Cheltenham, in October 2023, where Brunn was excited to play on one of Ginger Baker’s drum sets, while Ducret was in heaven checking all of Steve Winwood’s gear. Blaser recorded his latest ensemble album, Routes, at this studio (Enja, 2023).

The album is titled after Blind Willie Johnson’s gospel blues song, originally composed in the early 20th century, and reflects themes of sorrow and longing, showcasing Johnson’s masterful slide guitar work and emotional depth. The trio’s haunting interpretation features Blaser’s trombone suggesting Johnson’s humming and moaning vocalizations, Ducret’s distortion-heavy guitar and Brunn’s pulse-free drumming, breathing fresh tones into this iconic blues, and setting the powerful atmosphere of the album.

The following pieces were penned by Ducret and Blaser, highlighting the telepathic, kinetic language of the trio and its sense of restrained interplay, with Blaser, Ducret and Brunn enjoying full freedom to take each other’s ideas and pressing them into action. The album’s vinyl version concludes with the free improvised, free-associative «Jam», stressing its spontaneous creativity and immediate rapport, weaving diverse influences into a cohesive, masterful performance. The Bandcamp version of the album adds two more pieces that offer more sparse and playful improvisations with brief, evocative melodies and sharp and restless, rhythmic drive, highlighting the trio’s shape-shifting dynamics.

Eyal Hareuveni

Samuel Blaser (trombone), Marc Ducret (guitar), Peter Bruun (drums)