Christina Dahl Trio
Now Is Now
Storyville Records
www.storyvillerecords.com
By George W. Harris

Tenor saxophonist Christina Dahl hasn’t put out a record in about 4 years, so don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of her. And talking about hitting the ground running, her latest release has her with the daunting task of performing with a trio, which usually leaves no place to hide. Here, with Morten Lund/dr and Jesper Lundgaard/b, she knuckles down with her own material and delivers some impressive post bop material. Her tone is rough and edgy, and she uses it well on the mournful “while The Summer Twinkle” and a harmonized a cappella intro to “Colours Of My Inner Forest.” The band is able to nimbly swing, as on the boppish “Forever” and the dainty “Tarzan Swing.” Lundgaard’s bowed bass fills the ears on “Forever” while he and Lund never trip over each other during the obstacle course of “Lovely Angel.” Welcome back, stranger!