Bobo Stenson – Underwear (ECM, 1971)

Bobo Stenson (p); Arild Andersen (b); Jon Christensen (d)

May 18 - 19, 1971

Underwear was pianist Bobo Stenson's first release as a leader.  It was also just the twelfth release on ECM, a label established by German producer Manfred Eicher in 1969 that would have an enduring and formidable impact on jazz during the 1970s and beyond.

I suppose it's fitting that I've chosen a Scandinavian trio (Stenson is a Swede; both Andersen and Christensen are from Norway) as the first release from ECM.  Although the label often recorded (and continues to record) American jazz musicians, Eicher and ECM were pioneers in offering an alternative approach to jazz that is intentionally eclectic (and perhaps even Euro-centric), rather than taking its cues from African-American musical idioms (like the blues, the church, soul, and funk) that in one way or another had informed most jazz up until that point.

But I haven't chosen Underwear because it's a record that was representative of something that was happening in the early-70s at ECM (and elsewhere), even if, in some regards, it was (and still is).  I've included Underwear because Stenson, Andersen, and Christensen make superb music together.  

Aside from one track, Stenson composed all of the music on the album.  They're fascinating compositions, and the trio performs them brilliantly.  The music swings, but it doesn't necessarily swing the way an American trio would swing -- nor should it.  Part of the appeal of this music is its difference.  That said, the music is obviously indebted to American jazz.  (I would presume that Bill Evans' trios were an influence.)  But Stenson's trio isn't constrained by those influences.  Instead, they're using their influences as a starting point for striking out in new directions.   


More Bobo Stenson
During the 70s, Stenson also performed with the Swedish jazz group Rena Rama.  (Per Google translate, Rena Rama means "clean frame" in English.)  Along with Stenson, the original line-up consisted of Lennart Åberg (sax, fl), Palle Danielsson (b), and Bengt Berger (d).  Their self-titled LP Rena Rama (Caprice, 1973) is interesting and eclectic, mixing folkloric influences from Africa and south Asia with jazz. 

We'll also re-encounter Stenson as a co-leader later in this survey.