Live in Oslo
Trespass Trio (feat. Susana Santos Silva)
Live in Oslo
by Trespass Trio (feat. Susana Santos Silva)
Label: Clean Feed
Recorded the 17th of August 2018 at Blow Out Festival, Oslo, Norway
Release Date: October 20, 2023
On Live in Oslo, Trespass Trio teams up with Portuguese trumpet virtuoso Susana Santos Silva for a stirring exploration of free improvisation, recorded live at the 2018 Blow Out Festival in Norway. The album finds the trio—Per Zanussi on double bass, Martin Küchen on baritone and sopranino saxophones, and Raymond Strid on drums—melding their brooding, introspective soundscapes with Silva’s inventive, textural trumpet work. The result is a captivating session that seamlessly weaves together dark, slow-burn atmospheres and moments of radiant melodic release.
The opening track, A Desert on Fire, a Forest, sets the tone, with Silva’s perfectly rounded trumpet tones offering a contrasting lightness to the trio’s somber, cinematic feel. Her contributions throughout the album bring a fresh dynamic to Küchen’s multiphonic sax blasts and low-end swells, while Zanussi and Strid provide a steady, yet subtle foundation with pulsing basslines and bubbling, understated percussion. Tracks like The Spirit of Pitesti and A Different Koko showcase Silva’s ability to move between airy grace notes and raspy, half-valve textures, adding tension and color to the already dense sonic palette.
The improvisational telepathy among the musicians is palpable, especially on pieces like Sounds & Ruins, where the trumpet and saxophone engage in a delicate, call-and-response dialogue that builds to a slow, smoldering intensity. Strid’s drumming is consistently restrained, allowing space for the interplay between brass and reeds to take center stage, while Zanussi’s bass anchors the ensemble with deep, resonant swipes.
Despite being a first-time collaboration, the chemistry between the trio and Silva is undeniable, and by the time In Tears closes the album, it’s clear that they’ve crafted something more profound than just a guest appearance. Silva’s expressive portamento and rippling flutters bring a vibrant, Iberian flair to the Scandinavian group’s typically somber sound, expanding their sonic range while maintaining the emotional weight of the original compositions.
Recorded live in Oslo, this album is a testament to the power of spontaneous creation, its five tracks blending into one another to form a cohesive, hauntingly beautiful experience. Live in Oslo captures the essence of Trespass Trio’s introspective style, while introducing Susana Santos Silva as a perfect foil for their dark, melancholic soundscapes, making this collaboration a touchstone for free Jazz enthusiasts.
Track Listing:
Flor de Lis; Month of March in Salvador (Dunas); The Gift (Recado Bossa Nova); O Grande Amor; Antigua; The Island; Manha de Carnaval; So Many Stars; Wave; Only Trust Your Heart.
Personnel
Per Zanussi • double bass
Martin Küchen • baritone and sopranino saxophone
Raymond Strid • drums
Susana Santos Silva • trumpet