For more than two decades, the Tingvall Trio has been a reliable source of captivating piano trio jazz with catchy melodies and powerful rhythms. Their productions have been awarded the Jazz Award in gold eight times and once in platinum. Their last album, “Birds,” reached No. 1 on the German jazz charts, and sold-out concerts throughout Europe testify to the popularity of the three Hamburg residents. In preparation for their new LP, “Pax,” the trio played a concert tour comprising more than 20 dates at the beginning of the year, at the end of which the three went straight to their favorite studio, ARTE SUONO, run by sound engineer Stefanio Amerio in Italy. The result is an album that sounds almost as energetic but also as fragile as a live concert. Never before has the trio been captured so straightforwardly in the studio, whether in touching ballads like “A Promise” or typical TT dance numbers like “Cruisin.”
The album title “Pax” was chosen deliberately, as Martin Tingvall explains:
“In a world full of unrest and increasing social polarization, it was particularly important to me to use our music to send a message of peace.
With our album Birds, we already tried to reflect the disturbing developments of our time musically. Since then, many things in the world have continued to change for the worse.
As a musician, I don’t want to stand by and watch this happen in silence. PAX is intended to stimulate reflection, invite calm, and be a clear sign of peace.”
In addition to the usual CD/LP and DIGITAL formats, “Pax” will also be released in a limited LP edition, which includes not only the three tracks missing from the “normal vinyl edition” due to playing time, but also a special Rhodes version of the successful TT classic ‘Hummingbird’ on a second 10″ – a real bonus for collectors.
Starting in the fall, the trio will of course be bringing their new work to European stages, proving once again to listeners that they are among the best that European jazz has to offer, certainly also explicitly linked to the powerful message contained in tracks such as “A New Hope,” “Shadows,” “A Promise,” and “The End.”
The three players come from different countries. Despite the wide variety in their backgrounds, a level very much their own emerged from their creative alliance. Among the mentors who taught Swedish pianist Martin Tingvall his craft was Bobo Stenson. Jürgen Spiegel from Bremen, Germany gigged with artists like Nneka, but audiences were “boffoed” above all by his enormously multifaceted playing and the vividness of this percussion work. Double Bass player Omar Rodriguez Calvo from Cuba was already a sideman of Ramon Valle and Roy Hargrove among others. With the addition of Calvo , the music fluctuated back and forth between Scandinavian Jazz/Folk melodies and straight 4 rock rhythms obtaining a southern lightness that easily brought listeners to their feet. Meanwhile seen as one of Europe’s top jazz acts overall.
“Gentle, playful soundscapes.” – Brigitte (5 stars)
“Creates islands for pausing, reflecting, enjoying, relaxing, feeling good, and possibly also recharging your batteries. Contrasts and well-considered developments … recorded with great sensitivity for the sound of the instruments.” – RONDO
“Catchy ballads and up-tempo numbers.” – GONG, HÖRZU
“More explicitly political than ever before – without sacrificing musical lightness.” – kulturnews
“Twelve new, sparkling tracks.” – hr2 Hörbar
“Music to hold on to. The Tingvall Trio sounds even more compact and present than before.” – JAZZthing
“It deserves top marks for European jazz, and this time it is precisely the less powerful, more delicate numbers on this album that exude a charm and radiate a calm that is truly peaceful.” – Concerto
“One of the most exciting piano trios in European jazz at the moment.” – Neue Ruhr Zeitung
“Curious and youthful, as in the early days, yet with a well-rehearsed, refined team sound.” – Aachener Zeitung
“At the same time, the album impresses with the clarity and transparency of its expression, its immediate accessibility, and the beauty of its melodies. ‘PAX’ is an outstanding work—another milestone in the history of this great trio.” – jazz-fun.de
Tingvall Trio
A powerful statement from Germany’s No. 1 piano trio – energetic, fragile, moving
#2 Jazz charts August 2025 (Pop charts entry at #31 in the first week after release on August 1, 2025
Album of the week: Deutschlandfunk Kultur, WDR3
Album of the month: BR 24
“Gentle, playful soundscapes” Brigitte, 5 stars
