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Storyville Records

Play Ballads

$19.99

Details

Composer
Various
Artist
GinmanBlachmanDahl
Format
CD
Label
Storyville Records
Released
Jan 30, 2026
Catalog #
SVL1014365
UPC
717101436521

About

The acclaimed Danish jazz trio Ginmanblachmandahl, consisting of pianist Carsten Dahl, bassist Lennart Ginman, and drummer Thomas Blachman, return with the album Play Ballads, a collection of fifteen jazz standards rendered in their signature, contemplative style on Storyville Records. The trio's deep musical rapport is immediately apparent. Each note and silence is measured with care, revealing a rare comfort and understanding cultivated over decades of collaboration. Play Ballads is distinguished by it's contemplative approach to well-known standards such as Matt Dennis' Angel Eyes, Vernon Duke's Autumn in New York, Billy Strayhorn's Take the "A" Train, Thelonious Monk's Blue Monk, and Duke Ellington's Satin Doll. Each track is performed at deliberately slow tempos, allowing the trio to explore the subtle beauty and emotional depth of each melody. Dahl's piano often leads with sensitive, improvisational statements, while Ginman's bass and Blachman's drums provide understated yet essential commentary. Highlights include a sparse and intimate Angel Eyes, the reflective melancholy of Gone with the Wind, and a subtle reinterpretation of Ellington's Things Ain't What They Used to Be. The album reveals new facets of these standards, balancing tradition with innovation and showcasing the trio's ability to make each melody their own. Their shared history stretches back to the late 1980s, encompassing projects with Page One, Thomas Agergaard, Claus Hempler, and numerous individual recordings. Separately, they have worked with American jazz luminaries including Ed Thigpen, Joe Lovano, and Eddie Gomez, and together they have explored standards and original compositions across multiple albums since 2004. Play Ballads is a testament to the trio's mastery, musical intuition, and their ability to make every note and every silence count. This album is not only a must-listen for longtime jazz aficionados but also an invitation for new audiences to experience the artistry of three of Denmark's finest jazz musicians at the height of their powers.

Tracklist 15 tracks

  1. 1 Angel Eyes 03:54
    Track
    1
    Title
    Angel Eyes
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Matt Dennis
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  2. 2 Gone with the Wind 04:35
    Track
    2
    Title
    Gone with the Wind
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Allie Wrubel
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  3. 3 Autumn in New York 03:20
    Track
    3
    Title
    Autumn in New York
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Vernon Duke
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  4. 4 Road to Rio: But Beautiful 03:39
    Track
    4
    Title
    Road to Rio: But Beautiful
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Jimmy van Heusen
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  5. 5 Take the A Train 03:51
    Track
    5
    Title
    Take the A Train
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  6. 6 Chelsea Bridge 06:05
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chelsea Bridge
    Duration
    06:05
    Composer
    Billy Strayhorn
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  7. 7 Blue Monk 03:54
    Track
    7
    Title
    Blue Monk
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Thelonious Monk
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  8. 8 Carnival in Flanders: Here's That Rainy Day 02:52
    Track
    8
    Title
    Carnival in Flanders: Here's That Rainy Day
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Jimmy van Heusen
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  9. 9 Work Song 03:47
    Track
    9
    Title
    Work Song
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Nat Adderley, Oscar Brown Jr.
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  10. 10 There Is No Greater Love 04:52
    Track
    10
    Title
    There Is No Greater Love
    Duration
    04:52
    Composer
    Isham Jones
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  11. 11 C Jam Blues 04:12
    Track
    11
    Title
    C Jam Blues
    Duration
    04:12
    Composer
    Duke Ellington
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  12. 12 Don't Go to Strangers 03:24
    Track
    12
    Title
    Don't Go to Strangers
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Arthur Kent, Dave Mann
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  13. 13 Satin Doll 04:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    Satin Doll
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  14. 14 Black, Brown and Beige: Come Sunday 04:51
    Track
    14
    Title
    Black, Brown and Beige: Come Sunday
    Duration
    04:51
    Composer
    Duke Ellington
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman
  15. 15 Things Ain't What They Used to Be 02:43
    Track
    15
    Title
    Things Ain't What They Used to Be
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Mercer Ellington
    Performer
    Lennart Ginman, Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman