Johan Budi
The contemporary jazz landscape continues to be defined by the evolution of the piano trio, a format that, despite its century-long history, remains a primary vehicle for harmonic innovation and rhythmic exploration. Three recent releases—the Espen Berg Trio’s Entropies, Armen Donelian’s Inquiry, and Eddie Gripper’s Americana—exemplify the diverse directions in which the genre is moving. While each artist approaches the keyboard with a distinct cultural and technical background, they share a common commitment to storytelling, using the interplay of piano, bass, and drums to navigate themes ranging from scientific chaos and personal introspection to the sociopolitical complexities of the modern world.
The Science of Sound: Espen Berg Trio’s Entropies
Three years in the making, Entropies marks the fifth studio album from the Espen Berg Trio, a group that has been refining its collective voice since its formation in 2014. The album, recorded in Trondheim, Norway, on December 16–17, 2024, represents a significant milestone in the trio’s discography. Released on Svale Records, the project centers on the titular concept of entropy—the thermodynamic measure of disorder and randomness in a system. Berg uses this scientific framework to explore the inherent tension between meticulous planning and the raw, immediate nature of improvisation.
The Espen Berg Trio, consisting of Berg on piano, Bárður Reinert Poulsen on bass, and Simon Albertsen on drums, has long been recognized for its "polymetric" approach. This involves the simultaneous use of multiple meters, a technique that requires immense technical precision and a deep level of trust between the musicians. In Entropies, this complexity is pushed to the forefront. Tracks such as "The Parade" utilize exuberant folk-inspired rhythms, while "Nap Of The Earth" employs repetitive, hypnotic structures that challenge the listener’s perception of time.
Berg’s philosophy on the album format is rooted in narrative. "The most important thing about the album format is that it tells a story," Berg stated regarding the release. He noted that while "entropy" describes states of unpredictability, it also serves as a metaphor for the global conflicts and societal challenges characterizing the current era. This thematic depth is supported by a mix of original compositions and a singular cover: a rendition of Sting’s "Russians." The inclusion of "Russians," a song originally written during the Cold War, underscores the album’s preoccupation with modern geopolitical tensions.
While the core of the album is the trio, Berg expands the sonic palette on several tracks by incorporating guest musicians. Flavia Huarachi (flute), Joakim Munker (cello), and Nils Olav Johansen (guitar and vocals) add layers of texture that elevate the recording beyond a standard trio set. However, the "deeply personal imprint" of the core trio remains the driving force, maintaining an organic interplay where precision and freedom coexist.
A Multi-Year Evolution: Armen Donelian’s Inquiry
In contrast to the concentrated recording sessions of the Berg Trio, Armen Donelian’s 15th album, Inquiry, is the result of a protracted, four-year creative process. Released on Sunnyside Records (SSC4040), the album began in 2020 as a solo piano project. As the world navigated the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Donelian found himself in a period of intense personal change, describing himself as "lost in life." This sense of displacement fueled a project that would eventually evolve into a highly "orchestrated" work.
The chronology of Inquiry is essential to understanding its final form. Following the initial solo recordings in 2020, Donelian returned to the studio in 2022 to overdub additional piano parts. His goal was to enhance the harmonic density and strengthen the inner melodies, a technique reminiscent of Bill Evans’ landmark 1963 album Conversations with Myself. By 2024, the project expanded further as Donelian invited a quartet of collaborators—vocalist Dominique Eade, bassist Jay Anderson, and drummer Dennis Mackrel—to add further layers.
The album’s only live ensemble track, "Blue In Green," features Cassandra Wilson’s lyrics and showcases the group’s cohesive chemistry. Other tracks, such as "Dark Moon," a contrafact of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, feature trombonist Ed Neumeister. Neumeister’s contributions are particularly noteworthy; his "growling and crooning" on the trombone serves as a visceral protest against the contemporary political state of the United States.
Donelian’s Inquiry is an exercise in musical introspection. The 11-minute "Inverted Reality" serves as the album’s centerpiece, providing a sprawling arc of solo piano and instrumental orchestration. Donelian describes the piano on this record as a "refuge" and a "zone of safety." This sentiment is reflected in the exquisite timing and pitch throughout the set, where nothing feels hurried. The inclusion of the requiem "Too Soon Gone" adds a layer of pathos, rounding out a project that is as much a psychological document as it is a musical one.
The Travelogue of a Modern Wanderer: Eddie Gripper’s Americana
While Berg looks to science and Donelian looks inward, Welsh pianist Eddie Gripper looks to the horizon. His latest album, Americana, recorded at MultiRingo Records in Penarth, Wales, in April 2025, is a musical account of an 8,000-kilometer journey. In 2022, Gripper and a companion hitchhiked from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, through Canada, and down to Los Angeles. Carrying only a tent and manuscript paper, Gripper composed over 30 musical fragments during the six-week trek.
The resulting album, featuring bassist Clem Saynor and drummer Patrick Barrett-Donion, is not a tribute to American musical styles, but rather a reflection on the "American spirit" from an outsider’s perspective. Gripper’s compositions capture specific moments and locations: "Third Beach" reflects the transition from the Canadian wilderness to the urban environment of Vancouver; "Dana" is named after a peak in Yosemite National Park, conveying the "beautiful and terrifying" scale of the landscape.
The album’s emotional core is found in "One For The Road," a tribute to the late fathers of the two travelers, and the closing track, a cover of Paul Simon’s "American Tune." Gripper’s choice of the Simon classic serves as a summary of the journey’s underlying theme: the realization that beneath a veneer of optimism, the American reality is "deeply flawed."
Gripper’s style is characterized by a willingness to embrace silence and a focus on lyrical composition. His trio demonstrates a balanced dynamic, with Saynor providing a robust foundation and Barrett-Donion offering textured percussion. The album clocks in at a concise 37 minutes, reflecting the "fleeting impressions" that inspired its creation.
Comparative Chronology and Production Context
The three albums represent different production philosophies and timelines within the jazz industry:
- Espen Berg Trio (Entropies): Recorded over two days in December 2024. This reflects the traditional jazz "snapshot" approach, capturing a high-energy performance of a well-rehearsed ensemble. The use of a specialized Norwegian label (Svale Records) highlights the strength of the regional European jazz infrastructure.
- Armen Donelian (Inquiry): Recorded over four years (2020–2024) in New York. This project utilizes modern studio technology (overdubbing) to create a "virtual" ensemble. The long timeline suggests a process of reflection and revision, common among veteran artists seeking to summarize a lifetime of experience.
- Eddie Gripper (Americana): Recorded in April 2025. This project highlights the "concept album" approach, where the music is inextricably linked to a specific external event (the 2022 journey). The use of a Welsh studio (MultiRingo) points to the decentralization of jazz production away from traditional hubs like London or New York.
Broader Implications for the Genre
These releases suggest several emerging trends in contemporary jazz. First, there is a clear move toward "storytelling" and thematic cohesion. Musicians are increasingly looking for conceptual anchors—whether scientific, personal, or geographical—to frame their improvisations. This helps bridge the gap between abstract jazz and a broader audience seeking narrative connection.
Second, the role of the piano trio is expanding. While the core instrumentation remains the same, the integration of guest instruments (as seen in Berg’s Entropies) and the use of studio layering (as seen in Donelian’s Inquiry) show that the "trio" is becoming a flexible platform rather than a rigid constraint.
Finally, the political and social commentary found in both Donelian’s and Gripper’s work indicates that jazz remains a vital medium for social critique. Whether it is Neumeister’s trombone "protest" or Gripper’s observations on the American Dream, these artists are using their music to engage with the world beyond the concert hall.
In summary, the Espen Berg Trio, Armen Donelian, and Eddie Gripper have each contributed a significant work to the piano trio canon. Entropies offers a masterclass in technical interplay and scientific metaphor; Inquiry provides a deep, multi-layered look at the human psyche; and Americana captures the restless spirit of the modern traveler. Together, they reaffirm the vitality and continuing dominance of the piano trio in the 21st century.
