Hegge

Hegge spiller releases his third album recorded during the Lord's corona2020. Since we had much less jobs in 2020 due to" thou who shall not be mentioned", we spent money and time rehearsing nye songs and recording records instead. I don't think it was so bad. Turns at times very good.

Winner of the Norwegian grammy award (Spellemannsprisen) for best jazz record 2017 - is the up-and coming Norwegian composer and double bass player Bjørn Marius Hegge project, consisting of five of the finest jazz musicians in Scandinavia. They invite the audience into the melodical vibe that existed in the 1960s with catchy grooves, humourus phrasings mixed with strong compositions and playful improvisations. Even though the music is highly influenced by jazz legends such as Cannonball Adderley, Ornette Coleman and Charles Mingus, the band collectively drives their music into a different direction where each and every member are allowed to freely express themselves.

Only 28 years old, Kjetil Mulelid comes across as an exceptionally mature pianist and composer. His trio´s debut ”Not Nearly Enough To Buy A House” (2017) received wide international acclaim, with writers most typically mentioning Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans. All About Jazz noted their conversational style and sometime gospel feel, Textura made a point out of their melodic sense and folk-like character while The Wire noted the grooves, rich harmonies and lyrical melodies and concluded about "just how magical this album is".

Following in the footsteps of In The Country and Espen Eriksen Trio, Kjetil Mulelid Trio is the third piano trio to appear on Rune Grammofon. Although they can be placed in the same musical landscape, it´s also fair to say there are certain obvious differences. There is a solid dose of youthful playfulness and curiosity at work here, at the same time they show an assured maturity that belies their age (26, 26 and 29). The music is based on compositions by pianist Mulelid - inspired by everything from psalms to free jazz - but there is also room for collective improvisation. It can be energetic, rhythmically complex and harmonically rich, but also intimate and with a beautiful melody. They work purely with acoustic sounds and timbres and are constantly reaching for new ways to express themselves within these frames.

With six albums and hundreds of live performances under their belt, Wako plays with an authority and personality that places them at the forefront of Nordic jazz.