Wolfgang Haffner: Star

This trio is not well known outside of Europe, but certainly deserves a wider hearing. Everything clicks on the track. The interaction between the band members is exemplary. The swing is infectious. Everyone plays well, but especially drummer Haffner, who has a clean sound that is both light and aggressive at the same time -- he reminds me a bit of Brian Blade. The song is little more than a repeated groove, but the trio put so much heart and soul into it, it might as well be the Haffner Serenade, and not just Haffner's simple jam tune.