Gratitude is the ninth studio album from the Søren Bebe Trio, following their very successful 2023 release, Hear Now, which was my first experience with their music (I loved it!!!). The Trio consists of Danish pianist, composer and leader Søren Bebe; Danish bassist Kasper Tagel and Norwegian drummer Knut Finsrud. The trio was formed in 2007 and has evolved into a leading voice in Scandinavian jazz with more than 5.5 million streams of their previous album on Spotify alone. Gratitude is a deeply personal reflection on thankfulness, connection and the beauty of life’s quiet moments. It is also an expression of appreciation for the Trio’s dedicated listeners, the joy of creating music together, and for the gift of being able to do what they love. The album’s nine tracks include seven originals as well as the Trio’s arrangements of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” and Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away.” Overall, the album is low-key, calm and fits nicely in the background, but it also has plenty of depth and substance to sink your listening chops into for more focused listening. Several singles have been released ahead of the album, but I highly recommend the full album to fully savor the beauty and flow of all of the tracks.

Gratitude begins with “Frostblad,” a very “chilly” yet starkly beautiful piece that reflects the icy stillness and sparkle of a very cold landscape. All three instrumental parts are very spare and free, and yet they paint a vivid picture of an icy-white landscape - a fascinating start! “Good Enough” begins as a rather dark and mysterious dialog between the piano and percussion, gradually adding the bass and becoming more wistful and poignant, trailing off at the end. “Tystrup Sø” refers to Tystrup Lake in Zealand, Denmark, a large lake known for its fishing and hiking trails. Bebe’s tribute is calm and very peaceful, describing what this place means to him in a way that words never could. Tagel’s bass is especially effective on this one! There is a great video of “A Much Simpler Song” on Bebe’s website that shows the relaxed atmosphere and total focus of the Trio playing together in the studio - a fascinating watch! Bebe’s soulful arrangement of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” beautifully expresses the emotions in the song even without lyrics. If I had to choose just one, “Silent Listener” would be my favorite track on the album. It begins with a very dark and mysterious bass intro before the piano enters with deep emotion and complete honesty. Also very expressive, but lighter in spirit, “Chico” dances gracefully on the piano keyboard, beautifully supported by both the bass and drums. Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away” is gently rhythmic and soulful - free yet purposeful. The trio saved the title track for the end, and it’s well-worth waiting for! Warm, soothing and deeply thoughtful, the gentle feelings and expression flow freely from one heart to another, again expressing more than words ever could. Ahhhhhhhhhhh…

Gratitude is available on Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon and many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended!