Tingvall Trio is a fixture in international jazz, thanks to the captivating music and energetic interplay. In 2023 the trio from Hamburg celebrates its twentieth anniversary. What’s particularly remarkable is that the line-up has remained unchanged: pianist Martin Tingvall, who sets the tone with his clear melodies; double bassist Omar Rodriguez Calvo, who brings the unique swing of his native Cuba; and drummer Jürgen Spiegel, whose grooves reveal his rock and hip-hop background.

Martin Tingvall’s compositions on the new album Birds are dedicated to our feathered friends, ‘nature’s musicians’, according to the pianist. Alongside self-explanatory titles such as ‘Woodpecker’ and ‘Hummingbird’, the album veers in a more serious direction with tracks such as ‘SOS’, an environmentally conscious message of warning. ‘Personally, I can already see changes in the birds’ behaviour that stem from global warming,’ says Tingvall. ‘It’s high time to stop for a moment, to listen to nature and to act.’

Martin Tingvall piano, Omar Rodriguez Calvo double bass, Jürgen Spiegel drums