CD review: The Modern Jazz Trio with Jerry Bergonzi – Standard Gonz 2021: Videos, CD cover

Carl Winther is known as one of Denmark’s best young piano players. Son of the world famous composer and trumpet player, Jens Winther, he started touring at an early age. His performance is breathtaking and virtuous, with a fluent ability to improvise. An educated Jazz and Classic musician, Winther has been awarded for his precise and extravagant compositions, and his amazing skills.

His trio, driven on by this excellent presence on bass from Johnny Aman and veteran drummer Anders Mogensen is at my opinion one of the strogest combos ever supporting the Bergonzi’s tremendous tenor sound: the gorgeous, sparkling interplay seems to have this soaring vision that’s even more than the sum of its parts.

The collaboration with Bergonzi, spanning over a decade, generated five marvellous albums: Sonic Shapes (2011 Stunt) with bassist Joel Illerhag, Tetragonz (2013 Stunt), Inner Journey (2017 Steeplechase Lookout) and two more for quintet including trumpeter Phil Grenadier (Dog Star, 2017 Savant and Dedication, 2018 AMM).

The quartet toured extensively in festivals and venues in Denmark, Northen Europe, Canada and USA
Mogensen’s label AMM took out from his cylinder hat this wonderful live spontaneous session with these long time friends playing effortlessy some favorite standards. Top tracks: The Best Thing for You Is Me and Let’s Pretend.

The recording date and the venue (it might have been performed at a Copenhagen Festival) are undisclosed, but since the first track, the extraordinary gearing joy created by the quartet quickly dissolves the disappointment for the missing informations.

Bergonzi is in great shape here and it is always a pleasure to listen to his elegant and imaginative phrasing, rich in inventiveness and capable of striking and surprising an enthusiast audience. He is still one of the undisputed masters of the modern saxophone, supported here by prestigious musicians able to hold the ranks of a luxuriant live set like this one.

This is another surprising gem iand a very welcome addition in the wide Bergonzi’s discography.

1. Who Cares 5:37
2. I Will Never Stop Loving You 2:54
3. Giant Steps 6:16
4. Prelude to a Kiss 7:14
5. The Best Thing for You Is Me 7:29
6. My Ideal 3:40
7. Let’s Pretend 9:56

Jerry Bergonzi tenor saxophone;

Carl Winther piano;

Johnny Åman bass;

Anders Mogensen drums.