Opening the record, Trio Da Kali’s balafon (a wooden xylophone), bass ngoni (a traditional lute) and vocals clearly transport the listener to West Africa. But the introduction of Kronos Quartet’s classical strings a minute into “Tita” triggers an unexpected yet uplifting musical shift, thus unveiling an extraordinary fusion ... [Continue Reading]
voice
Trio Mediæval & Arve Henriksen: Rímur
Based and formed in Oslo in 1997, Trio Mediæval is a Norwegian/Swedish vocal ensemble whose repertoire features a wide range of medieval music from France, England or Italy, traditional Folk songs and ballads from the Nordic countries as well as contemporary music written for the trio by Gavin Bryars, the New-York-based ... [Continue Reading]
Birds on a Wire
Birds on a Wire is an enchanting voice and cello duo formed by French-American singer Rosemary Standley (with multinational France-based alt-folk band Moriarty) and young Brazilian singer, songwriter and cellist Dominique Pinto aka Dom la Nena. Initiated by Rosemary Standley in 2011 as “Rosemary’s Songbook”, the project evolved ... [Continue Reading]
Arve Henriksen: Places of Worship
A founding member of free improvised and electronic music quartet/trio Supersilent, Norwegian trumpet player Arve Henriksen is also a prolific artist as a leader. A sumptuous aural feast featuring the musician’s trademark liquid trumpet and eerie soprano voice on two tracks, Places of Worship was released in September 2013 last ... [Continue Reading]
Youn Sun Nah: Momento magico
Drawing on an unconventional career path, Korean singer Youn Sun Nah is a unique voice in contemporary Jazz. Born in Seoul in 1969, she débuted her music career as a classical singer and only started delving into the Jazz repertoire when she moved to France in her mid-twenties. The singer released her début album “Reflet” in ... [Continue Reading]
Dhafer Youssef: Whirling birds ceremony
Tunisian composer, oud player and singer Dhafer Youssef is a wandering musician constantly migrating from one country to another within Europe and North Africa, having lived and worked in Tunisia, France, Austria, Norway or Turkey over the years. Following up on the superb Abu Nawas Rhapsody (2010), Dhafer Youssef’s new album ... [Continue Reading]
Trio Mediaeval: Gjendines bådnlåt
Trio Mediaeval is a vocal ensemble formed in 1997 by Anna Maria Friman (Sweden), Linn Andrea Fuglseth and Torunn Østrem Ossum (both from Norway) specialising in the sacred and mediaeval polyphonic repertoire from Italy, France and England. They have also worked extensively with contemporary composers and musicians such as Gavin ... [Continue Reading]