FRESU / GALLIANO / LUNDGREN “Mare Nostrum IV”

Fresu / Galliano / Lundgren
Mare Nostrum IV
ACT, actmusic.com

Personnel:
Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flute), Richard Galliano (accordion, melodica), Jan Lundgren (piano).
Recorded in Noisy-le-Sec, September 30 – October 2, 2024.

Four of a kind! This marks the fourth studio collaboration for these three leading figures of European jazz. Mare Nostrum IV arrives six years after their previous recording, and while the formula remains largely unchanged, it continues to offer an evocative, gracefully unfolding musical journey—one that metaphorically drifts from the cool northern waters of the North Sea toward the sunlit shores of the Mediterranean.

The album presents four compositions by Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren, three by Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, and three by French accordionist Richard Galliano, who also contributes on melodica. In addition, there are two traditional pieces arranged respectively by Lundgren and Galliano. Throughout, a gentle melancholy underpins many of the themes, particularly in Galliano’s contributions. Yet beneath this languid introspection, glimmers of light and hope emerge — most notably in the lyrical Hope and the buoyant reprise of La Vie en Rose.

The decision to keep the tracks succinct serves the album beautifully, highlighting the intrinsic charm of the melodies, the delicate counterpoint, and the subtle interplay of timbres. There is no room for gratuitous displays of virtuosity or extended improvisation. Instead, the trio focuses on storytelling, on conjuring vivid imagery, and on constructing a cinematic voyage through landscapes, sensations, and characters. Everything unfolds with organic ease — much like the steady, natural flow of the sea itself.

Ivo Franchi