Sayeh is the first Trio recording from Scandinavian jazz pianist Simon Linnert along with American drummer Allan Mednard and Danish bassist Richard Andersson. The album's title comes from an Old Persian name that means "shade" or "shadow," and three of the tracks on the album are originals called "Sayeh I, II and III." The music was recorded in Copenhagen the day after an impromptu concert at the legendary Jazzclub Christiania. Sometimes lively and upbeat and sometimes much more pensive and searching, the album is a beautiful example of the magic that can happen when three fiercely individual artists come together for a musical conversation defined by intuition, energy and emotional range. The ten tracks include two pieces by Linnert, three that are collaborations by the trio, and one each composed by Carla Bley, Paul Motian, Andrew Hill, Wayne Shorter, and Thelonious Monk - quite a fascinating combination!

Sayeh opens with "Ida Lupino" by Carla Bley. It begins with something of a musical whisper and stays fairly subdued throughout. The melody and rhythms are relatively simple, but express so much with very little bravado. This piece really caught my attention the first time I heard it, and I hear new elements in the music the more I listen to it. "Around the Park" by Paul Motian picks up the tempo a bit with an easy groove and a laid-back attitude, gaining momentum as it evolves. "Sayeh I" is the first of the three original collaborations by the three artists. Free-form and experimental, it's quite different from the first two tracks. "Erato" was composed by Andrew Hill and returns to a relaxed tempo while expressing a somewhat darker mood - I really like this one, too! Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti" pays homage to Ancient Egypt's queen and the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten from the 18th dynasty. Bright and upbeat, Nefertiti's history must have made quite an impression on Shorter to inspire this music! Simon Linnert composed "Thelious," a beautiful and deeply emotional piece that seems to express loss and sadness. "Sayeh II" is also very spare, unstructured, and more than a little bit mysterious. Thelonious Monk's "Boo-Boo's Birthday" is a carefree and light-hearted romp that was composed for Monk's daughter - sure to bring a smile! "Sayeh III" utilizes some interesting hand percussion instruments along with a repeated bass rhythm and some piano improv - a very interesting combination! "Nūr-e chashm" is a Persian phrase that means "light of my eyes" or "the vision of my eyes" to express deep affection and appreciation for someone, particularly a child or a loved one. Simon Linnert's original composition is slow, spare and very expressive and is a very beautiful close for for this excellent album!

Sayeh is available from Apple Music/iTunes as well as streaming sites including Spotify and Pandora. Highly recommended!