Roadmap doesn’t try to reinvent anything—it just hits that sweet spot where good tunes, great players, and real chemistry meet. You can tell everyone’s listening, pushing, and enjoying the ride. It’s straight-ahead jazz done right.
April Records
Andreas Toftemark – Tenor Saxophone; Benny Benack III – Trumpet, Vocals on “Again’”Rasmus Sørensen – Piano; Kaisa Mäensivu – Double Bass; Joe Peri – Drums
Copenhagen and New York have been trading jazz ideas for decades, and Roadmap shows that conversation is still going strong. Danish saxophonist Andreas Toftemark and American trumpeter Benny Benack III co-lead a tight, swinging quintet—Rasmus Sørensen on piano, Kaisa Mäensivu on bass, and Joe Peri on drums—that’s fundamentally a post–hard bop group with bite. The press notes talk about “Nordic lyricism,” and yes, there’s clarity and balance in the arrangements, but this band swings too hard for the glacial introspection some people associate with Scandinavian jazz.
The energy here is pure New York. The opening track delivers that classic trumpet–tenor blend that could’ve come out of a mid-’60s Jazz Messengers session. Benack’s trumpet tone is bright and conversational, Toftemark’s tenor smooth and riding just behind the beat—two distinct voices that lock in beautifully.
A thumping bass and a background wash of cymbals kick off Toftemark’s title track, “Roadmap,” with a cascading piano line that immediately grabs you. Benack plays with casual ease, his trumpet tone warm and relaxed, his phrases ending with that little twist where he squeezes the notes, adding a playful edge. Toftemark follows with a cool, graceful tenor line that sounds effortless — the kind of swing that nods to the West Coast cool-school. The rhythm section keeps things buoyant: Sørensen’s piano dances just behind the beat, Mäensivu’s bass walks with a beautiful, lyrical tone, and Peri’s drums push things forward without crowding the sound. By the time the horns come together in unison, it’s got that compact, joyful feel you’d expect from a vintage Art Blakey lineup.
Drummer Joe Peri’s “Icebreaker” ups the intensity with a driving swing and bold horn lines that could’ve come off an old Blue Note date. Benack pushes into the upper register with bright, confident phrasing, while Toftemark glides through it all with that conversational, relaxed sound of his. No matter how heated things get, he never sounds rushed—just calm and completely in control. Sørensen’s piano solo snaps with bluesy single-note runs and bouncing block chords—that rhythmically buoyant approach you hear in players like Wynton Kelly and Red Garland.
“Again” is one of the album’s real gems. Benack sings in a cool, low register, his voice gravelly but relaxed, with that same kind of laid-back charm Adrian Dunbar brings when he sings in the television series Ridley. There’s a touch of Kurt Elling’s phrasing in there too, but nothing soft or precious—this isn’t Chet Baker. It’s confident, casual, and quietly magnetic. Toftemark’s tenor slides in right behind him, matching the mood with an easy, understated solo. The whole thing feels timeless, like a tune you’d stumble on in a small club around 1960 and never forget.
The album closes with “What Gets You,” a short, fiery burst of energy that shows just how tight this band really is. Peri’s crisp drum intro sets the tone before the horns jump in together—bright, punchy, and full of life. Benack comes out swinging, tossing off quick runs and sharp accents that feel spontaneous but right on the mark. Toftemark answers with a solo that’s bold and fluid, his tone cutting through cleanly while Sørensen keeps things moving with crisp, rhythmic piano lines. It’s a short track, but it crackles.
Roadmap doesn’t try to reinvent anything—it just hits that sweet spot where good tunes, great players, and real chemistry meet. You can tell everyone’s listening, pushing, and enjoying the ride. It’s straight-ahead jazz done right.
