ASA Trio

From Iceland comes an organ trio
rooted in tradition, yet branching out in every direction.

Since 2005 this group has been playing all kinds of music in their own unique way. At an ASA Trio show one could expect to hear music by the likes of Bud Powell, Fiona Apple, Wayne Shorter, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix... and their debut album “Plays the Music of Thelonious Monk” earned them international praise. However, now the trio is releasing their 2nd album “Craning” which exclusively features original compositions by the trio.

The new music presents various sides of the three musician’s personalities and ventures into territory not typically occupied by a traditional organ trio. The set is decidedly diverse with pieces ranging from a sweet country ballad to a Devo-ish punk tune to modern jazz workouts in odd time signatures and more, all the while coexisting under the same sonic umbrella. It sounds like a band that has been playing together for a long time.

Organist Agnar Már Magnússon has recorded 4 albums as a leader and performed with Chris Cheek and Seamus Blake. Known internationally for his two albums with Bill Stewart and Ben Street, he is often nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards and in 2008 he won for Composition of the Year and in 2012 he walked away with the award for Jazz Composer of the Year.

Guitarist Andrés Thor has recorded 5 albums as a leader and has performed as a leader and sideman in Norway, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Spain as well as in the USA. He is in high demand both on the jazz scene and as a studio musician in Iceland. His two most recent albums were released both on Dimma Records in Iceland and Nordic Notes in Germany.

Drummer Scott McLemore has recorded 4 albums as a leader and many as sideman. He is an American and is known internationally as the drummer in his wife’s trio, pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs. Before moving to Iceland he lived in New York City where he played with people like Tony Malaby, Ben Monder and George Colligan. More recently he has performed with Tore Brunborg and John Abercrombie.

ASA Trio will be touring Europe in October beginning in Iceland then to Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, Holland and France.

Free Downloads

Although, "Plays... Monk" is the first studio release by the trio, two live recordings are free to download from the music page. One which demonstrates the enormous stylistic range of the band and one which is their performance of John Coltrane's masterpiece “A Love Supreme.”

On the Horizon

The new album "Craning" is set for release on October 22nd at Harpa in Reykjavik. This is the first album ASA Trio has released of exclusively their own music. Available for pre-order soon via Bandcamp.

October 22-29: European tour promoting our upcoming album "Craning" featuring original compositions by the trio. The tour starts in Iceland on October 22nd and then to Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, Holland and France. See the full schedule for details.

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Video

A performance on Icelandic tv of Fiona Apple's song "Get Him Back."
 

From the 2010 Reykjavik Jazz Festival with the Spanish virtuoso saxophonist Perico Sambeat as our special guest.