Direct, immediate communication, constantly in motion, at eye level at every millisecond, open, free, subtly high quality and indeed democratic without any hierarchical tendency: these are the parameters for the perfect trio. Quite a few people use these attributes, but without ever thinking about their deeper meaning.. For Jan Lundgren, this format has therefore always been considered the ultimate in lived improvisational culture. He has maintained his own classical piano trio since 1995, but it wasn't until the Swedish pianist broke open the classical piano trio format in 2007 with his groundbreaking "Mare Nostrum" project and formed a congenial alliance with the Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu and the French accordionist Richard Galliano, which critics even praised as the "first European supergroup", he came closer to his ideal than ever before. But Jan Lundgren wouldn't be the restless, eternally searching workaholic if he were content with that and didn't continue to look non-stop for new challenges. "I've always been looking for strong voices in the European jazz scene, Musicians who feel a similar sense of adventure as I do and who can move in all directions," explains the 55-year-old. A good platform for this is regularly offered by "his" Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival, which Lundgren founded in 2010 in the small town on the Swedish south coast that is world-famous for Henning Mankell's Wallander thrillers and has directed ever since - with the option of two of his own performances each year. Back in 2015, the "Ystad Concert" with bassist Mattias Svensson and the Bonfiglioli Weber String Quartet sprang from this - a tribute to Swedish jazz pioneer Jan Johansson. "There's always something new waiting for me in Ystad, something I've never tried before." So also in 2020, whereby fate directed here as so often in jazz. Actually Jan Lundgren had set himself up for a piano trio performance. But when the drummer had to cancel due to the Corona travel warnings, the French saxophone shooting star Emile Parisien stepped into the breach at short notice Parisien stepped into the breach. Again a completely unconventional trio, again one of those unexpected challenges that Lundgren loves so much. One day before the concert, he, Parisien and his Swedish compatriot Lars Danielsson met for the first time ever. And after only a short time the three of them sensed at rehearsal that it could be another one of those lucky breaks. Lundgren speaks euphorically of a "trinity, a heavenly providence!" In the intimate setting of a small concert hall, where every member of the audience is inevitably involved in the process of creating the music, the magic of the new trio could really unfold. "Jazz is always about good melodies, concise rhythms and strong compositions," Lundgren explains. "Everyone brings their own touch to it, starting from our completely different musical backgrounds. And that's what makes it so exciting and thrilling. We enjoy diving into each other's worlds and creating new ones in the process." Lundgren, Parisien and Danielsson use catchy compositions as the basis for their joint digressions, which they embellish with relish, following all the rules of the art of improvisation, and unfold with childlike joy. The opener "Glädjens Blomsters" (Flowers of Joy), for example, is an old Swedish folk song given a touching melancholy note by Emile Parisien's dark soprano. Lars Danielsson's hymn to his daughter "Asta" beckons into a corridor of harmonic vibes. Not the only surprise: the bassist opens Parisien's "Préambule" with a voluminous, round intro, while the warming "I Do", which Lundgren once wrote for a play, is carefully illuminated from within by the musicians. In the style of a romantic keyboard virtuoso, the Swedish pianist introduces "Schubertauster", a homage to Franz Schubert, which in turn was contributed by the French accordionist Vincent Peirani as composer. Jan Lundgren owns a dog, a cute promenade mix between Yorkshire Terrier and Chihuahua. "A Dog Named Jazze" sounds just as vital and exhilarated. The title track "Into The Night", in all its harmonic colourfulness, seems like a soundtrack for the traditional Swedish Midsommar. Finally, Lars Danielsson has put down a declaration of love to "Ystad", this small, fine, proud jazz festival, on music paper Which the three of them put to music with great devotion and empathy Of course, the Ystad Festival will go on stage again in 2021, from August 4 to 7. Once again Jan Lundgren, Emile Parisien and Lars Danielsson will combine their exuberant musicality, their wealth of experience and savour their new trio feeling to the hilt. He is as happy as a child, says Lundgren. "I'm so happy about this coincidence, and that we can pick up the thread again after this long, pandemic hiatus. For me, it's like a second chance!"