Following a perhaps overly familiar trio of
standards given pleasant but unremarkable performances --
"Stella by Starlight," "Over the Rainbow," and the title track --
My Favorite Things finally gets a head of steam going with an uninterrupted string of trio originals that are perfectly emblematic of Danish pianist
Thomas Clausen's cerebral but never wonky or inaccessible style. Working closely with bassist
Jesper Lundgaard and drummer
Peter Danemo instead of in the usual "leader plus sidemen" way,
Clausen regularly cedes the spotlight to his cohorts, who wisely keep their solos brief and to the point. (Naturally,
Lundgaard's brief solo in the title track nods to
Jimmy Garrison's famous live solo introduction to
John Coltrane's signature tune.)
Clausen is similarly concise himself, with the result that the album's dozen relatively brief tracks never have to end up in the weeds. A particular highlight is the lovely tribute
"Ballad for Bley," a piano solo informed by the style of the Montreal modern master. ~ Stewart Mason
