Lars Danielsson – Echomyr

With the arrival of Grégory Privat in his band, Lars Danielsson’s music has taken on a new dimension.

As lyrical and danceable as ever, his compositions have a lasting charm and are all the more enjoyable to listen to when you realize how much the musicians accompanying him have worked in the joy of vibrant communication.

The leader plays both double bass and cello, his two main instruments since his debut, but for this recording he has added piano and guembri or electric guitar to two tracks. In addition, he invited three additional instrumentalists to play on four tracks: trumpeter Arve Henriksen, flutist Magnus Lindgren, and English horn player Carolina Grinne.

Suffice it to say that this repertoire, written entirely by the leader, offers a varied palette of sounds, ranging from world music to Swedish folklore and, of course, jazz. The atmosphere of this opus is often dreamy and poetic without ever falling into melodic ease or sentimentality, and this small miracle is partly due to the skillful combination of the timbres of the different instruments, partly to the relevance of their solo performances and, of course, to the quality of Danielsson‘s compositions.

The sound of his double bass is almost vocal in places, and the entire repertoire has an eminently cantabile quality. Grégory Privat‘s piano plays a central role here, and this newcomer to the leader’s world brings an incomparable addition to the ensemble, such is the radiance and sunshine of this instrumentalist’s musicality.

All in all, this is a beautiful recording by a seasoned musician who knows how to reinvent himself while staying true to his sensitive and delightful style of music. Listen to it again and again!