The jazz world is not short on piano trios, but its not every day that one comes across a new trio with a personal musical language. Espen Eriksen Trio plays highly melodical and lyrical instrumentals with elements from Scandinavian folk and melancholia and shades of the deep woods. It’s definitely jazz, but their less is more approach is in contrast to most of their contemporaries, with structures almost like pop songs and with a strong focus on melodies and short solos.
The trio released their debut “You Had Me at Goodbye” on Rune Grammofon in March 2010 to massive positive response from both Norwegian and international press. The album is still picked up and praised by music magazines worldwide, almost a year after its release, most recently in January when the song “Grinde” was included on the “Critics Choice CD” in the American jazz magazine Jazziz’s summary of 2010.
Since the release of “You Had Me at Goodbye” Espen Eriksen Trio impressed at jazz venues such as Molde Jazz, Maijazz, Vossajazz, Sildajazz, National jazz scene (Victoria), Kvarteret, Hadeland Jazz Forum, herr. Nilsen and many more. After a year of club and festival concerts and the trio delivers a tight and strong live set, and leaves audiences wanting more of this great!trio.