LUCIA CADOTSCH voice // OTIS SANDSJÖ tenor saxophone // PETTER ELDH double bass
With Speak Low III, Lucia Cadotsch, Otis Sandsjö and Petter Eldh celebrate ten years of Speak Low, a chamber trio that has redefined how iconic songs can exist on contemporary concert stages. Working exclusively with voice, tenor saxophone and double bass—without harmony instruments or drums—the trio transforms a carefully curated repertoire from the 20th century into living, evolving musical forms. What began in 2016 as a bold reimagining of jazz standards and folk traditions has grown into one of the most distinctive trio formats in European jazz, driven by three musical voices forming the complete architecture of their sound.
Speak Low III highlights the depth of their artistic approach. Guided by openness, curiosity and a shared love of music, the trio draws inspiration from a broad spectrum of influential composers and songwriters, including Cole Porter, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Van Heusen, Brian Eno, Kurt Weill and Billie Holiday. Rather than simply interpreting this material, they deconstruct and rebuild it from within, revealing the core of each composition while reshaping it through a contemporary lens. Their finely balanced interplay and unified ensemble sound reflect the experience gained from more than 150 performances around the world.
Speak Low stands for radical reduction and maximum presence. With minimal means, the trio creates a dense, highly interactive and deeply physical musical language—at times intimate and acoustic, at times textural and almost electronic. The result is a form of acoustic retro‑futurism that brings the past into the present without nostalgia. Following the international acclaim of their earlier recordings—including praise from The Guardian and DownBeat, and performances at major festivals and venues such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, London Jazz Festival and NYC Winter Jazzfest—the ensemble has developed an almost telepathic musical communication. Their concerts unfold in the moment, with songs stretched, fractured and reshaped spontaneously, giving each performance its own narrative arc.
On Speak Low III, the trio sounds more focused, more daring and more mature than ever. The music moves fluidly between narrative clarity, shimmering textural explorations and a powerful rhythmic drive, combining precision with spontaneity. The anniversary tour surrounding the album connects a decade of shared musical experience with a new chapter in their evolving sound - concentrated, fearless and emotionally resonant, ideal for venues and festivals that value intimacy, artistic integrity and a strong sonic identity.
