Twelve years ago, Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, French accordionist Richard Galliano and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren – all from the upper echelons of European jazz – formed their trio. Each has his roots in the musical tradition of his home country and each has used it to develop his own musical language.

‘Mare Nostrum III’ completes a trilogy of albums. Right from the beginning of their decade-long collaboration, the group has had the idea of recording an album in each of their home countries. They made the first in Italy in 2007 and it took these busy musicians until 2016 to go to France and record the second. Their third destination was Sweden and the Nilento Studio in Gothenburg. “Once again,” says Rene Hess, the Swiss producer of the album, “it was a pure pleasure to see the sheer ease with which Paolo, Richard and Jan can create such great music.”

With ‘Mare Nostrum III’, Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano and Jan Lundgren have once again created a wonderful ballad album. Through their music they rise way above the old discussion about whatever jazz might be nowadays. What they have achieved instead is to bring the sound of Europe to life.

2LP on heavyweight, halfspeed cut 45RPM vinyl with digital download code.