Ville Lähteenmäki Trio ‎– Introducing: Ville Lähteenmäki Trio

February 2nd marks the release of Liv Andrea Hauge Trio's first studio album, "Ville Blomster" (Wild Flowers). The trio's debut album, "Live from St. Hanshaugen," was recorded in Liv's living room just a week after they started playing together. In contrast, "Ville Blomster" represents the result of a year of frequent touring, practice, and studio time. The trio has developed its own expression, allowing room for exploration and improvisation. The title "Ville blomster" symbolizes the wild and improvised side of their music, along with the beautiful and simple melodic elements (the flowers) that stand out.

The Neave Trio’s programme Rooted features a range of works based on folk music. Smetana’s distinctive nationalistic style was largely based on the inclusion of bohemian rhythmic and melodic elements, and he was acclaimed in his native Bohemia as the father of Czech music. His Trio in G minor was composed in 1855 as a response to the death of his four-year old daughter and shows the influence of Liszt.

Trio Sonnerie have chosen five of the 14 sonatas by Buxtehude from the 1690s to demonstrate their considerable fluency and rapport. These are witty and elegant works, finely crafted and requiring the skills of virtuoso players. Monica Huggett and Sarah Cunningham capture their essence with happily chosen and neatly articulated tempos—the vivace movements are effortlessly played—and beautifully transparent textures. Mitzi Meyerson provides a stylish and secure accompaniment, particularly in the G major Largo and the B flat major Vivace (which is, in fact, a chaconne).

Known for their impeccable and authentic gypsy-jazz playing, The Cook Trio has delighted audiences through-out the U.S. This wonderfully talented group romps through traditional Parisian Waltzes, Jazz Standards and Modern Pieces with style and virtuosity. The sound of these acoustic guitars and bass, invites listeners on a journey to the romantic cafes of Paris and the Gypsy camps where guitar is the language of life. Two guitars and a standup bass are all that’s needed to produce the haunting and beautiful sounds of The Cook Trio. Brothers Ian and Jason Cook along with Kyle Jones demonstrate an artistry that calls back to Django Reinhardt and looks forward to nights in Paris and days in the hot Florida sun. The trio is by turns explosive and serene, and you won’t believe how fast Jason Cook’s fingers can move, or how deeply you’ll be moved.

Haydn’s star towers over the firmament of classical music – that of a creative genius whose boundless imagination continues to shine brightly in our own day. For their first recording, the Trio Ernest have brought together pieces that they have come across in the orbit of this composer so dear to them.

Is there a better trio than the Florestan playing today? All three members are consummate artists, outstanding instrumentalists, and ensemble players to the manner born, but it’s the playing of pianist Susan Tomes that carries these performances to their greatest heights. Since the ensemble is perfectly judged by all concerned, it may seem unjust to single out the playing of one member for special comment, but such is the extreme sophistication, the extraordinary subtlety and the expressive range of this artist that I can see no alternative. The tonal control, the exquisite shaping of phrases, the rhythmical suppleness and structural backbone are of an order seldom encountered in the playing even of many famous soloists. But what renders her playing here still more remarkable is the exemplary precision with which it’s matched to the different sonorities and qualities of attack, so-called, of the string players. And what players they are. For all of the above this is not a pianist-dominated performance, except insofar as Schubert wrote the piece that way.