The second release on the Loop label comes from a trio led by Copenhagen born bassist Jasper Hoiby. Now based in London Hoiby is a member of the exciting young Loop Collective of creative musicians.

However to date he is probably best known for his work with members of the more established F-ire Collective. Hoiby has recorded and toured with the acclaimed singer Julia Biel, appearing on her excellent “Not Alone” album. He has also appeared in a cutting edge trio with trumpeter Tom Arthurs and drummer Stu Ritchie.

Hoiby is also involved in several other projects led by both British and Danish musicians but the Phronesis album marks his recording debut as a leader. And what a debut it is.

For this album Hoiby has returned to Denmark and enlisted the talents of his compatriots pianist Magnus Hjorth and drummer Anton Eger. Both players are highly active on the burgeoning Scandinavian jazz scene. These superb young musicians make a huge contribution to the success of this album, which was recorded at Copenhagen’s Sincere Studios.

The material comprises entirely of Hoiby originals and reveals him to be an excellent writer with an unfailing ear for a good tune. Hoiby’s way with a melody is matched by his way with a groove and the style in which he mixes the two together engages the listener’s attention throughout the whole album. With eleven relatively short tracks no idea is allowed to outstay it’s welcome.

Although Hoiby leads from the bass this is ostensibly a piano trio and the mood varies from ECM style lyricism through to more rhythmic, groove led pieces in the style of EST (minus the electronics) or the UK’s own Neil Cowley Trio.

The opening “Untitled” and its later reprise have a pastoral air that nods in the direction of ECM. However even here Hoiby’s huge, singing bass sound hints at something more groove orientated.

The skittering, energetic title track echoes the intensity of Cowley’s approach whereas “Melody” combines melody and groove in the manner of EST.

However these comparisons are merely convenient reference points. Hoiby is no mere copyist and his writing is consistently interesting throughout. Leading from the bass he is able to put his own stamp on the music. There is a real collective spirit within the group and each member makes a vital contribution to the overall sound.

Hoiby’s enormous bass tone and agile finger work makes him both a vital rhythmic component and an important soloist, the closing “Na?ve Tune” being a particular highlight. Appropriately he is at the very core of the music.

Hjorth is a versatile and inventive pianist whose playing is vital to the group aesthetic. He takes memorable solos on “French” and “Seven For Samba” but in the main his role is not that of “pianist plus rhythm section”. In such a democratic group each member is given more or less equal prominence as the trio achieve an organic group identity.

Eger’s contribution is also brilliant, particularly on the slow burning “Smoke Like A Camel” and “4 now”. He is a busy but sensitive drummer and his playing never imposes but always adds. His sympathetic support, attention to detail and use of the whole kit brings to mind not only EST’s Magnus Ohrstrom but also British drummers such as Sebastian Rochford (one of Hoiby’s associates in the Julia Biel band) and Martin France. Indeed Eger sometimes deps for France in Django Bates band Human Chain.

British born Bates has moved in the opposite direction to Hoiby and now lives in Copenhagen. Bates runs a big band in Denmark under the name “stoRMChaser” and deploys Eger in the drum chair.

Immaculately recorded by engineer August Wanngren “Organic Warfare” deserves to do well. Indeed this is an album that has rarely been off my turntable, and not just for review purposes. Hoiby has intentionally kept things harmonically simple and the result is music that is consistently interesting melodically and rhythmically but never “difficult”.

This is music that manages to be bright and accessible but without any hint of compromise. In that sense it is in the spirit of EST, Cowley, Keith Jarrett and even Pat Metheny. This is music that deserves to be heard and it should hold some appeal for curious rock listeners as well as the jazz audience.

Already available in Denmark “Organic Warfare” is due for release in the UK on October 1st 2007. See http://www.jasperhoiby.com

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