The Jazzcat

Additional Photos

It

is so nice when 3 individual sounds speak, have their own identity and

come together beautifully as one. EST is a trio that has this quality

and transforms jazz music through a Swedish filter to get a sound that

marvelously intoxicating. EST is Esbjorn Svensson on piano, Dan

Berglund on Bass and Magnus Ostrom on drums.

 

Catalina Bar

and Grill provides such an intimate space to create good music. The

rich maroon colors add to the seductiveness of the music. Mentally

provocative and challenging, EST engages you in all velocities of the

straight ahead progressive spirit. Their Mehldauian bodies are lucid

and free to let their interpretations flow like rippling music tides

that guide their direction in the open waters of creativity. Dan sets

the tone on a few tunes with a dominant boom of the E,A and G to set

the rhythm and then switches to lead by pulling out his bow and letting

the sound soar. Esbjorn vacillates from beautiful melodies to percussivly strong pounds of sound and back again! Magnus supports with light intricate brushes providing a warm undertones and adding such nice little delicacies at just the right time.

 

EST left Sweden, made a stop somewhere else and then made another 11 hour plane excursion hear to Los Angeles.

Even after a long day of travel they sound fresh and romantically

lovely. EST immerses you in their sound which is lushly thought

provoking and you are made to stop, think and feel not only the music

but, appreciate the organic space it takes you to.

 

Esbjorn also

adds a synthesizing touch which creates a mystical element to the

sound. Visually, I imagine a tiger ominously prowling through the

rainforest, sleek, exciting and dangerous all at the same time. Magnus plays

puts down the brushes and plays with his bare hands while Dan bows

beautiful long gorgeous tones. The music has the feel of a soundtrack

to a cognitive and forward thinking silent film as you sink deeper and

deeper into a relaxingly blissful musical state.

 

Sweden must be a lovely place!

 

LeRoy Downs