Bobo Stenson piano
Arild Andersen bass
Jon Christensen percussion
Recorded May 18/19, 1971 at the Bendiksen Studio, Oslo
Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug
Produced by Manfred Eicher
Release date: September 15, 1971
With such a solid trio of musicians and a name like Underwear, you just know this one’s going to be good. And sure enough, Stenson kicks things off just right with the spirited title track, throughout which every instrument bubbles in a witches brew of fine flavors. Exuberant drumming, flurried bass lines, and a tightly knit sense of composition make this one of the great openers of ECM’s extensive jazz lineup. Hot on its heels is “Luberon,” the album’s requisite ballad, the placement of which both emphasizes the liveliness of the opener while also bolstering its own lyrical sensibilities. “Test” lays on a more organic sound of percussion and scraped piano strings. This delicate backdrop continues as Stenson breaks into a clearly defined melodic improvisation, prompting cries of ecstatic joy before succumbing to a forced fadeout. “Tant W.” brings us into more laid-back territory with its alluring conversation between piano and drums. Once the bass joins in, the groove becomes certifiably infectious. After this block of Stenson originals, we are treated to a pair of fine closers. Ornette Coleman’s “Untitled” runs with reckless abandon through frenzied pyrotechnics, priming us for the comforting “Rudolf” (Andersen). The latter’s fluid piano intro becomes the heart of the piece, echoing in an otherwise bass-dominant space.
Stenson is entirely on point, as if he were inborn with a finely attuned sense of melody and articulation. His playing is democratic and guides with a gentle hand, always managing to cover so much of the keyboard in a single cut. Andersen’s busy fingers provide the album’s backbone, while his gorgeous vibrato and twang-ridden charm work wonders in the softer moments. And Christensen’s drumming never fails to excite. Triply inspired soloing and a synergistic core make Underwear a prime choice for the ECM newbie and veteran alike. A simply fantastic album, this is one for the ages.
<< Dave Holland/Barre Phillips: Music From Two Basses (ECM 1011)
>> Dave Holland/Derek Bailey: Improvisations for Cello and Guitar (ECM 1013)
Between Sound and Space: ECM Records and Beyond 
This is now available digitally on iTunes. I think this recording is historically relevant, of course. But I would not recommend it to anyone as an introduction to ECM. The recording quality is a bit dated and not representative of ECM.
I definitely agree that this is not a good starter ECM album, but certainly a fun one to slip into after a dip into the pool.
Well…this recording is certaily a lame duck, not really being available to the general public and what a terrific session it was! This is the earliest full trio of Bobo Stensen and they are already exploring the musical landscape of flowing, over-the-bar-line improvisation that they followed relentlessly over the years in countless recordings. Jon Christensen’s sound is still dominated by K. Zildjian Light rides. His later sound with his very heavy K. Zildjian defined the genre as per: Ralph Towner’s Solstice. The Jarrett influence is there as is the Bill Evans but Bobo steers his own path by using more space and a different, less traditional, swing feel, alowing all the instruments to have their own place in the music mix. 100% recommended and if you don’t get it at first, then you need to work harder. Who says music of this level should be easy??.