Michael Wollny Trio: Nachtfahrten - Album Review

Whatever scatological inferences may spring to the mind of an English speaker, the name of German pianist Michael Wollny's record translates as Night Journeys. These are the dark, somnolent journeys of an extravagantly talented piano trio, slowed down to late-night stumbling pace, like Debussy set upon by Tom Waits and Thelonious Monk in a dark alley. Alongside overt references to the dark side, like Angelo Badalamenti's creepy music for Twin Peaks and Bernard Herrmann's score for Psycho, the trio's original material, mostly taken at ballad pace, is suffused with a theatrical, romantic air of mystery. Wollny doesn't so much burn as smoulderthroughout, only occasionally bursting into flame, egged on by his long-time collaborator and fellow composer, the excellent Eric Schaefer on drums. michaelwollny.com