CD Review - The Jasper Somsen Group

Jasper Somsen Group

Dreams, thoughts & poetry – The music of Enrico Pieranunzi

Challenge Records CD73303

Line up

Bert Lochs – Trumpet & Flugelhorn | Florian Zenker – Gitaar | 

Jeroen van Vliet – Piano & Fender Rhodes | Jasper Somsen – Double Bass | Pieter Bast – Drums

The Jasper Somsen group has taken the bold move to record a CD featuring from Italian master pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. In the liner notes Pieranunzi wrote “…each of my compositions has been treated with great imagination and feeling.”, and after hearing the CD I can only concur with Pieranunzi. The CD grabbed my attention immediately with Bert Lochs haunting flugelhorn melody on “Ein li milin (no more words)” This beautiful track meanders gently through Pieranunzi’s harmony and conjures up images of the Italian landscape in the autumn.

Somsen displays a true command over his instrument with the arco melody on “Dream book” and his (pizz) solo on  ”The night gone by”.  Personally, the highlight of the CD is “Dee Song”, beginning with a unisono melody played by Florian Zenker (guitar) and Somsen (double bass). Zenker’s short but well formed solo is followed by a truly beautiful trumpet solo from Bert Lochs.

Somsen shows himself to be fine composer with is composition “the middle way” (the only non Pieranunzi composition on the CD) and features a fine solo from Zenker. I had to search had to find something disappointing on this CD, however personally I feel that “Si peu de temps” just doesn’t quite fit stylistically with the rest of the track’s .

This CD is a gem and will find its way regularly to my CD player. I can’t recommend this CD highly enough.

Johan van Deeg

Further information about the Jasper Somsen Group can be found at  www.jaspersomsen.com