A startlingly exciting album of piano trio jazz from three creative innovators, in the followup to the 2022 debut of the Swedish Space Trio of Lisa Ullen on piano, Elsa Bergman on double bass and Anna Lund on drums, recording in the studio for eight collective improvisations of extremely well matched, highly interactive and exhilarating modern improv.
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Sample The Album:
Lisa Ullen-piano
Elsa Bergman-double bass
Anna Lund-drums
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UPC: 5904224872076
Label: Relative Pitch
Catalog ID: RPR1171
Squidco Product Code: 34612
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Atlantis Studio, in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 17th, 2023, by Niclas Lindstrom.
"Space is Lisa Ullén (piano), Elsa Bergman (double bass) and Anna Lund (drums).The piano trio based in Stockholm is back with a fiery follow-up to their 2022 debut. The trio now collectively goes under the name Space, which I perceive to be the symbolic transformation from ad hoc group to a real band. On Embrace the Space the trio indeed plays like a band - demonstrating a fondness of each other rooted in their shared history (a shared history dating back to at least 2016 as members of Anna Högberg Attack). On Embrace the Space, the exploratory interplay of their previous outing is sufficiently eclipsed by raw and moving confidence of a fully-developed team.
Recorded in studio, Embrace the Space consists of eight exhilarating improvisations. The conciseness of most of these improvisations yields focused, to-the-point statements that relish in their collective acumen with stirring results. "Look" kicks things off with snarl, with Ullén's brooding piano building tension like thunderheads on the horizon. The erratic "Cyklop" begins with a spikey conversation between prepared piano and Bergman's plodding bass before Lund enters the fray. "Rage" is aptly titled - it's a full-tilt assault led by Lund's driving cymbals. On "Composure," the trio slows down without sacrificing a lick of intensity. The paced, descending piano harmony feels foreboding enough before Bergman and Lund prod the group into rougher seas. Three longer tracks permit the group to stretch out a bit more.
They still retain the focused energy as on their shorter improvisations, but with some additional room to maneuver. "All at Once" is a daring ride that firmly seats Space in the upper echelon of piano trios. There are even moments that remind me of the Feel Trio in the same raw intensity. "Bleach" is the longest track here at over 12-minutes. We find Space at its most dynamic here - it's a communion of shifting moods and building tension. About 6-minutes in the trio decelerates; Ullén taps out a repetitive chord while Lund and Bergman fill the scene with restless energy. The piece gradually builds gravity until it reaches a breaking point. The release of energy is hair-raising as three voices collide in free jazz maelstrom. Utterly brilliant.
Space is fast becoming one of the most daring piano trios on today's scene (and a personal favorite of mine). Embrace the Space is a milestone achievement for the trio as they solidify their sound and camaraderie. Highly recommended."-Taylor McDowell
Get additional information at The Free Jazz Collective
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Lisa Ullen "Lisa Ullén, pianist and composer. Born 1964 Seoul Korea, grew up in the north of Sweden, now based in Stockholm. Graduated in 1990 from the Royal Academy of Music, Stockholm . Studies in jazz and improvisation at Chapel Hill NC USA. electro-acoustic music at EMS (Electro Acoustic Studio of Sweden). Among her commissioned works are intermedia project Kyrillien, chamber manga opera Ninjutsu , musical drama play Now time is waiting. She has been supported and rewarded by the Swedish Arts Council, the Society of Swedish Composers, Swedish Arts Grant, and the Royal Music Academy. The musicians of Lisa Ullén Quartet have their musical roots in jazz, punk, chamber music and blues but come together in what might modestly be called modern acoustic improvisational music. An impressively keen ear is paired with astounding musicianship, where each single note played is as important as the linear totality. A new generation of Swedish musicians expand the concept of free jazz, giving space to beat and melody as well. All the members of the group are well established on the Swedish jazz and improvisation scene. LUQ have been broadcast by the Swedish National radio and TV and the second album was released in April -09 with very good reviews Lisa Ullén and Nina de Heney Duo has existed since 2007, and has rapidly gained recognition as one the most thrilling new groups on the improvisation scene in Sweden. They are individually known and respected as well established performers, having each developed a personal sound on their respective instruments. Their second album, released in April -09, received very good reviews.They have performed at the main festivals in Sweden, such as the Umeå International Jazz Festival and the Stockholm Jazz Festival, and their music has several times been broad-casted on the National Swedish Jazz Radio P2." ^ Hide Bio for Lisa Ullen • Show Bio for Elsa Bergman Elsa Bergman is a Stockholm, Sweden-based double bass-player working in free jazz and improvised music. She plays in the free jazz sextet "Anna Högberg Attack", who have released and album on Swedish label Omlott. She is also a member of the high-energy improv quartet "Festen" whose debut albumwas on the Portuguese label Clean Feed. She leads her own quartet "Elsas Eget Omdöme", and is a member of Fire! Orchestra, Golden Offence Orchestra, Hästköttskandalen, Motståndsorkestern Version 1. ^ Hide Bio for Elsa Bergman • Show Bio for Anna Lund Anna Lund is a Swedish drummer, know for her work with the trio Lisa Ullen/Elsa Bergman/Anna Lund, Anna Högberg Attack, Flocken, Hurrakel! and Malin Wättring 4. ^ Hide Bio for Anna Lund
9/4/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Look 3:10
2. The Immeasurable 7:09
3. All At Once 8:11
4. Cyklop 3:23
5. Bleach 12:21
6. Rage 3:36
7. Composure 4:08
8. Blood and Money 3:20
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Piano Trio (Piano Bass Drums)
Collective Free Improvsation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Trio Recordings
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