Stefan Orins Trio - The Middle Way (2021) Hi Res

Since 1996 and its first concerts in Lille, the trio of the Lille-born pianist Stefan Orins traces his way. “The Middle Way” is the fifth album of this adventure. More than 20 years of collaboration, a relatively rare thing in music that concurs with a desire to carry out a real background work, to persevere with this trio and “remain true to a spirit of freedom, beauty and authenticity”. A guideline emerges through the recordings, a true coherence that has been built step by step.

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE

Stefan Orins brings the compositions, and Peter and Christophe, however, have a large share of responsibility in establishing the shape of the pieces, which is not necessarily established in advance. “The compositions in themselves have always left a great place to the personality of each one, the music remains very free and can only be the reflection of the people who interpret it”. The characters evolution made the compositions of the trio evolve. The music is not frozen: this trio has an equilateral operation like the trios of Bill Evans or Keith Jarret which are the assumed influences. “The three-way dialogue, the listening and the freedom of everyone to express themselves, have always been present. Music is never closed, constantly changing, concerts are essential until blossoming. The recording seeks to capture this moment of fulfillment. ” Stefan also easily quotes Charlie Haden and Paul Motian, Bobo Stenson, Michael Wollny or Craig Taborn.

BETWEEN THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE

With “The Middle Way” – the middle path – the trio seeks the way that harmonizes what is visible and invisible, always structures that are both simple and open, allowing the free flow of energies. Like all previous albums, there is a natural balance between material and spiritual.
The music evokes both the spaces and a certain warmth, the music remains alive and unexpected.