A non-standard trio shaping the sound of Am Are
Bugge Wesseltoft, one of the most influential figures in Nordic jazz, will join us for Jazz in the Park 14th edition with a special trio that reimagines the piano trio format. Joined by legendary double bassist Arild Andersen and Indian percussionist Sanskriti Shrestha on tablas, this ensemble presents music rooted in Bugge Wesseltoft’s latest album, Am Are (Jazzland Recordings, 2025).
A fluid, open formation where melody, rhythm, and texture continuously shift roles, creating space for deep listening and spontaneous interaction.
A trio built around ‘Am Are’
Released in March 2025, ‘Am Are’ is the fifth installment in Bugge Wesseltoft’s long-running Solo album series, which began in 2007. While the album itself features a wide range of collaborators and sonic constellations, the trio format distills its core ideas into a focused, acoustic dialogue.
In this trio setting, selections from Am Are are performed alongside Bugge Wesseltoft standards and material from the individual musical worlds of the three artists. The result is a varied and non-standard live set, shaped by melancholic atmospheres, subtle grooves, and space for improvisation.
Three distinctive artists
Bugge Wesseltoft has long shaped his own jazz language through solo work, group projects such as New Conception of Jazz, OKWorld! and RYMDEN, and collaborations across genres. His piano playing here moves between intimacy and abstraction, offering melodic anchors and spacious harmonic frameworks.
Arild Andersen brings decades of experience and a deeply lyrical bass voice. A central figure in European jazz, his playing adds warmth, gravity, and a strong melodic presence, grounding the trio while leaving room for exploration.
Sanskriti Shrestha introduces a unique rhythmic dimension through tablas and harp. Her Indian percussive patterns interact organically with Wesseltoft’s piano, adding texture, pulse, and an entirely different sense of time to the trio’s sound.
Why this concert matters at Jazz in the Park
This trio embodies the spirit of Jazz in the Park: openness, curiosity, and music that unfolds without rushing toward a climax. It is a meeting of generations, cultures, and musical disciplines, connected through attentive listening and shared space.
Bugge Wesseltoft, Arild Andersen and Sanskriti Shrestha live at Jazz in the Park offer a rare chance to experience Am Are, not as a fixed recording, but as living music.
Bugge Wesseltoft & Arild Andersen & Sanskriti Shrestha
Live at Jazz in the Park 2026
Ethnographic Park, Cluj-Napoca
June 5–7, 2026
Tickets available https://bilete.jazzinthepark.ro/
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