ProStudioMasters.com

"While Eriksen's is the most immediately dominant voice, Jenset's contributions and, in particular, Bye's—whose approach to color and groove is so subtle it's often felt more than heard—are equally essential. Quiet, yet occasionally building to peaks all the more dramatic for the trio's largely gentle dynamic, What Took You So Long is a worthy follow-up to Espen Eriksen Trio's debut, and a harbinger, no doubt, of even better things to come." - All About Jazz On their second album this most melodic trio continue in the same tradition as on their highly acclaimed debut from 2010, a tradition that implies typically Scandinavian elements such as folk music, melancholia and the deep woods. In that respect it´s fair to say that he belongs to the same tradition as Tord Gustavsen and the late Esbjörn Svensson, even Jan Johanson in some respects, but without sounding like any of them. It´s also fair to say that the trio´s less is more approach is in stark contrast to many contemporary piano trios, with shorter tunes and strong focus on melodic content. On What Took You So Long you will find eight new Eriksen compositions and two quite unlikely cover versions. ”Oslo”, the lovely and captivating track that ends the album, was written in the shade of 22nd July and captures both grief and optimism in a simple and unsentimental way.