All three of the protagonists that have collaborated on this album have been reviewed on the Ear in past years, be it as collaborators or leaders, this is the first time that they have released an album as a trio. Mare Nostrum IV is loosely translated as ‘our sea’, while Galliano and Fresu are share a possible tie to the Mediterranean, Lundgren is at best sharing an aspiration to bathe in warm water of it instead of having to freeze parts of his anatomy in the much colder waters of the Baltic.
Mare Nostrum IV has been described elsewhere as a jazz album but it certainly isn’t. It is a scintillatingly beautiful, understated collection of melodies that don’t fall into any particular genre, but jazz is far from an accurate description to its nature.
It consists of 12 tracks that are looking for Scandi noire films with Bergmanesque observations on the human condition, or possibly and more likely a TV series detailing a French version of private dick Philip Marlowe, investigating the crimes committed by a Swedish belle in Rome.
Either way the gentle trumpet of Paolo Fresu, the signature sound of Richard Galliano’s accordion, and the ivory tinkling of Jan Lundgren are spell binding. They wholly deserve to be chosen for such tales of clandestine intrigue. This very intimate album offers a relaxed sophistication throughout, the cognoscenti will no doubt take note of track number two Last Note which is a homage to Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage. There is also a nod to Galliano’s Gallic origin, with a bluesy rendition of Le Vi En Rose (for a chase scene with an ancient Citroen 2CV perhaps). But all other tracks are original creations served gently and melodiously in a calm fashion that will have you looking for the most comfortable parts of the armchair or sofa.
The files that ACT supplied for Mare Nostrum IV were in the 44.1/16 bit CD resolution. The recording while accurate sounds artificial due to added echo but instruments are very clearly etched in space and the soundstage extends beyond both speakers, so it sounds good overall and can be highly recommended.
Reuben Klein