'Outside' by Malcolm Braff, Petter Eldh & Lukas König

Malcolm Braff's music has consistently shun any notion of pre-ordained structure or anything close to being regimental.  As a keen improviser, uninterested in reading sheet music and with a passion for jazz fusion, the Rio de Janeiro-born pianist has successfully carved an esteemed career out for himself by simply forging his own path.

I say 'simply' not to imply that the path untraveled is an easy one to walk, but the decision for Braff as a free-thinking and uninhibited musician was an easy one to make.  Across the vast range of musical projects that he has attached himself to over his expansive career, Braff has managed to cater to all of his musical passions from classical music projects to work with the Afro-jazz quintet COMBO, the progressive sounds of Shijin, the Indian music aesthetic evidenced through his work with trumpeter Erik Truffaz or the array of projects that have positioned his piano alongside Sarah Chaksad, Bänz Oester and Simon Spiess.

While always keen to collaborate with like-minded and imaginative players, Braff's latest release through Unit Records, 'Outside', finds him in the company of some fantastic names in Swedish upright bassist Petter Eldh and Austrian drummer Lukas König...

Eldh's long-standing affections for golden era hip-hop have managed to permeate its way into his music in exciting ways as with his deliciously bold Koma Saxo project while his affections for stripped-down and haunting compositions found their perfect accompaniment alongside vocalist Lucia Cadotsch for their 'Speak Low' series.  Similarly, König's daring leaps, certainly as pertain to his own projects, have found him excitedly drawing on electronics and off-kilter sound effects and percussion that cement a place within his own soundscapes.

While 'Outside' finds itself in celebration of the union of Braff, Eldh and König, the project itself seems a long overdue follow-up to Braff's 'Inside' release which dates back to 2011 on Enja Records.  Also featuring König on drums, the duty of bassist was bestowed upon the acclaimed Reggie Washington leaving 'Inside' a treasure in its own right and a brilliantly apt introduction to concepts further explored through 'Outside'.

Comprised of four tracks with a runtime of just under 25 minutes, the music throughout is playful yet audacious.  It's music that is devoid of urges to conform or adhere to any ideals of what people assumed this union would sound like.  Deliciously unpredictable and continually relishing within being so, 'Outside' is indicative of each of the musician's continual desire to explore untapped soundscapes using nothing but each other as guides.

There's no particular destination in mind, no expectations to satisfy and certainly no rules to follow.  Just three musicians enjoying the freedom to discover exactly where their collective instincts might take them.