Category: Jazz
Markus Stockhausen: Mona
The fruit of the pan-European cooperation between German trumpet player Markus Stockhausen, Hungarian classical guitar player Ferenc Snétberger, Norwegian bass player Arild Andersen and French drummer Patrice Héral, Joyosa (2004) is more than a traditional solo jazz recording with sidemen. Coming to life as distinct duos from…
Arve Henriksen: Migration
In addition to his improvised work with experimental electronica trio Supersilent, Arve Henriksen has also perfected over the years a characteristic floating trumpet sound that is mainly derived from his study of the Japanese Shakuhachi flute. Confirming the musician’s status as a major improviser and…
Arve Henriksen: Opening image
Norwegian trumpet player Arve Henriksen is a fascinating and multi-faceted musician who initially studied formal jazz. But since the 1990s, he has moved away from traditional formations to explore different approaches to sound and improvisation. A founding member of avant-garde trio Supersilent, the trumpet player…
Romano/Sclavis/Texier: Entrave
Between 1990 and 1993, drummer Aldo Romano, clarinet/saxophone player Louis Sclavis and double bass player Henri Texier completed two tours of Central and West Africa organised by the network of cultural centres in Africa. With the objective of reconnecting with the African roots of jazz,…
Henri Texier “Azur” Quartet: Indians/Desaparecido
“Indians/Desaparecido” is one of these epic jazz compositions: a dramatic introduction followed by a series of arresting choruses. In order of appearance, we have Glen Ferris on trombone, Louis Sclavis on clarinet, Bojan Zulfikarpašić on piano, Henri Texier on double bass and Tony Rabeson on…
Esbjörn Svensson Trio: From Gagarin’s Point of View
Swedish Jazz pianist Esbjörn Svensson (1964 – 2008) died prematurely five years ago today at the young age of 44. The magnificent “From Gagarin’s point of view” stands out as one of the trio’s most recognizable ballads. It also featured on the trio’s eponymous 1999 recording,…
Claudio Monteverdi: Lamento Della Ninfa
L’Arpeggiata Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was an Italian composer in the late Renaissance whose innovative compositions led to the birth of opera as a new style of music. In addition to early operas and church music, Monteverdi published nine books of Madrigals, or Renaissance love poems…
Alice Coltrane: Walk with me
While never abandoning her Christian beliefs, Alice Coltrane formally converted to Hinduism in the mid-1970s and went on to set up her own Vedantic centre in California. Around that time, she also more or less retired from public life, making only rare live appearances or…