Raimond Mägi Trio
Raimond Mägi Trio was formed in year 2016 by the bassplayer Raimond with the initial plan to record some tracks as a project. The spontaneous recording session grew into forming a band and in 2017 the trio released its first album „Rahu“ („Peace“). The trio: Raimond Mägi (doublebass), Kirke Karja (piano), Hans Kurvits (drums). The material is initiated by Raimond's ideas and then processed or co-created further by the bandmembers' different musical backgrounds and playing styles. Trio's creating process is not about staying in the realm of a certain style or conception, the development of pieces comes from the music's own inner logic. The musical means are totally in service of musical vision, the range is wide: classical, progressive rock, traditional jazz, experimental music. The changeovers from the precomposed to the improvised parts are seamless, making it interesting for the listener to try to figure out which is which. For the trio one of the main principles for creation is to search for the balance between complex and simple – in other words – finding the „speaking“ quality so it would not be understandable for the audience of educated musicians only, but find different listeners regardless of their background.
Album Review
by Joosep Sang
Published in the Estonian music magazine “Muusika” on April 4th, 2018
Before listening to the CD, I had never heard Raimond Mägi play, only his name, here and there. That’s a shame!
The drummer on trio’s album, Hans Kurvits, I had heard once before and had been surprised by his level of playing. Pianist Kirke Karja, diverse and omnipresent in current jazz scene in Estonia, was of course an old acquaintance.
Raimond Mägi’s contrabass has a vocal-like deep sound. As a leader of his ensemble his also the composer and arranger of their music, using a carefully selected musical expressions he creates a conceptional whole for the album.
Accompanying words by Mägi serve as a guide: “This album is dedicated to peace and to the people who care about peace in themselves and peace around them. [---] How many of us do really have a home - a place where we feel safe? I hope everyone will find it. Then there will be peace.”
The nine-track record is by its sound and mood peaceful, yet not entirely.
Some tracks include more intense developments and higher temperatures but all around the music is coherent with contemporary European jazz.
Band members share their responsibility in representing music pretty equally. By no means has the record a dominating piano trio sound, but also not pushing the bass into soloing spotlight. Kirke’s piano playing has dynamics that stretch from piano pianissimo to orchestral cascades. Bass and drums are often resonating along in a weightless state of being, at other times stepping into the conversation using complicated rhythms.
Trio sounds delightful and cohesive and in the end, for the listener it is not important whether it is the result of like-mindedness, a lot of rehearsing and playing together or ingeniously crafted and good songs.
