Mira

After the eruptive excitement of their Live At Belleville album, which was widely praised around the world (and secured for leader Arild Andersen the Prix du Musicien Europeen 2008 from the Academie du Jazz in France), the trio now delivers a studio album.

In Oslos Rainbow, bassist Andersen, tenorist Tommy Smith and drummer Paolo Vinaccia re-channeled their musics energies into a program of soulful ballads and mid-tempo free-floating sound explorations. The pairing of Andersons muscular bass and Smiths vaulting tenor is exceptionally compelling (as the recent Celebration album also confirmed). Most of the tunes on Mira are from Arilds pen, though his cohorts also contribute material, and there is an unexpected interpretation of Burt Bacharachs Alfie, beautifully played by Tommy Smith here.