Being There cover

Being There

Released

Being There is the culmination of a trilogy that started with 2003’s Changing Places and 2005’s The Ground. As such, it has a retrospective quality that pulls at the heartstrings. Alongside bassist Harald Johnsen and drummer Jarle Vespestad, pianist Tord Gustavsen crafts some of the most achingly melodic jazz one could imagine. It’s the kind of music you might put on in the background for a gathering, only to find that everyone falls silent and listens to the end. The hymnal qualities of Gustavsen’s writing, especially in tunes like “Vesper,” shine through most vividly.

Tyran Grillo

Recommended by

Suggestions
Napoli Trip cover

Napoli Trip

Stefano Bollani
Hear You Say cover

Hear You Say

Ray Anderson, Marty Ehrlich
Yellow & Blue Suites cover

Yellow & Blue Suites

Enrico Pieranunzi, Marc Johnson
Prime cover

Prime

Oregon
Homeward Bound cover

Homeward Bound

Johnathan Blake
Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac cover

Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac

Chucho Valdés, The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Four for Trane cover

Four for Trane

Archie Shepp
In the Paint cover

In the Paint

Alan Ferber, David Binney
Solo cover

Solo

Fred Hersch