28/10/2014, 21:30

ASA TRIO 

ASA Trio is an incredible and fantastic icelandic organ trio. Since 2005, this group has been performing all sorts of music in its own unique way. It would not be unusual to walk into an ASA Trio show and hear them playing a song by Fiona Apple, Wayne Shorter, Jimi Hendrix or Bud Powell… and their debut album “Plays the Music of Thelonious Monk” earned them international praise. However, now ASA Trio is releasing their 2nd album “Craning” which exclusively features original compositions by the trio.

The new music presents various sides of the three musician’s personalities and ventures into territory not typically occupied by a traditional organ trio. The set is decidedly diverse with pieces ranging from a sweet country ballad to a Devo-ish punk tune to modern jazz workouts in odd time signatures and more, all the while coexisting under the same sonic umbrella. It sounds like a band that has been playing together for a long time.

Organist Agnar Már Magnússon has recorded 4 CDs as a leader and performed with Chris Cheek and Seamus Blake. He is often nominated for the  Icelandic Music Awards  and in 2008 he won for Composition of the Year and in 2012 he walked away with the award for Jazz Composer of the Year. 

Guitarist Andrés Thor has recorded 5 CDs as a leader and has performed as a leader and sideman in Norway, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Spain as well as in the USA. He is in high demand both on the jazz scene and as a studio musician in Iceland. His two most recent albums have been released both in Iceland on Dimma Records and in Germany on Nordic Notes.

Drummer Scott McLemore has recorded 2 CDs as a leader and many as sideman. He is an American and is known internationally as the drummer in his wife’s trio, pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs. Before moving to Iceland he lived in New York City where he played with people like Tony Malaby, Drew Gress, Ben Monder and George Colligan. More recently he has performed with Tore Brunborg and John Abercrombie.

ASA Trio will be touring Europe in October beginning in Iceland then to Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, Holland and France.