The Squid's Ear Magazine


Eriksen, Espen Trio: End Of Summer (Rune Grammofon)

Pianist Espen Eriksen takes his trio of bassist Lars Tormod Jenset and drummer Andreas Bye back to their roots in their first pure trio record in five years with this beautifully rendered set of original Eriksen compositions, lyrical and touching music with a melancholic tinge, as Eriksen focuses on unforced melodic character that belies an optimistic glow.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Espen Eriksen-piano

Lars Tormod Jenset-bass

Andreas Bye-drums


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UPC: 7033662022168

Label: Rune Grammofon
Catalog ID: RCD 2216CD
Squidco Product Code: 29776

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: Norway
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded at Propeller Music Division, in Oslo, Norway, by Mike Hartung.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"After the highly successful "Perfectly Unhappy" album with Andy Sheppard, the trio is back with a new album featuring seven brand new songs from the pianist. Captivating and lyrical, always melodic, often melancholic and uplifting at the same time, these are all real tunes. After 10 years, four albums and regular touring on four continents, the trio is tighter than ever and have reached an almost telepathic level of interplay.

End Of Summer was recorded in Oslo in April during lockdown. After getting all their concerts cancelled because of the pandemic, Espen says it was very inspiring to still be able to meet in a recording studio to make new music and keep it all alive. This being their first recording in five years as a trio, Espen is also keen to stress that the collaboration with Andy was not a one-off and that the plan is to "continue working together for a very long time".-Rune Grammofon



"Any album recorded during the lockdown of 2020 will doubtless be scrutinised for cryptic references. As such, End Of Summer as a title might hint at something deeper (or darker) than mere seasonal flux. But amidst so much global turmoil, the Espen Eriksen Trio has held its nerve and created another poignant opus. Tranquility at the centre of chaos.

As a Nordic pianist with a keen awareness of folk ballads and lullabies, Eriksen brings an innocent guile to his craft. Supremely skilled at the keyboard, his philosophy is certainly based on the 'less is more' approach. Thus he offers clear phrasing and charming melodies, tightly drawn into sketches which speak personal volumes, then peacefully close.

The trio's previous outing was a highly sensorial work with saxophonist Andy Sheppard, but here they revisit the enriched and intensified style of their earlier Never Ending January (Rune Grammofon, 2015). Eriksen's art has rarely been about astonishing the listener with unexpected twists. His musical blueprint is to quietly enthrall, to capture the halcyon imagery of his thoughts. End Of Summer opens with "Where The River Runs," a light-fingered and lyrical piece whose lead melody is echoed in octave jumps. "Back To Base" has elegiac bass bowings and quietly busy percussion, then "Dancing Demons" takes a deeply focussed study into a sweep of controlled energy. Here we really sense the unit functioning as one entity, with one higher purpose.

The bluesy title track adds loping bass lines and a hint of bossa in the percussion. It also highlights Eriksen's subtle use of a noirish suspense which pops up in many of his numbers, rather like those moments in a Bergman movie when shadows dance across walls or faces. Next up, the cadences on "Transparent Darkness" find Eriksen lingering and reflecting; maybe even lamenting the lost lives of 2020's pandemic.

"A Long Way From Home" uses deft martial snares to propel its yearning lilt, while "Reminiscence" is also aptly titled, a track which tumbles sweetly in its own nostalgia... for what? A lost friendship or love affair, perhaps? Or possibly the life we took for granted before a global virus changed everything.

Their first record as an actual trio for five years, End Of Summer marks a new and optimistic season for Eriksen's band. Informed by the moods and emotions of its circumstances, this is an exemplary album."-Gareth Thompson, All About Jazz

Also available on vinyl LP.
Get additional information at All About Jazz

Artist Biographies

"Espen Eriksen (piano) was born in Haugesund in 1974. He is best known today as leader of the Espen Eriksen Trio, which released its debut album on the renowned Rune Grammofon label last spring to rave reviews and favourable comparisons with the likes of Esbjørn Svensson and Tord Gustavsen. Eriksen contributed as pianist, songwriter and arranger on Christina Bjordal's international solo debut for Universal Music. His varied musical background ranges from playing the organ to the pop band Briskeby, and he has performed with such prestigious instrumentalists as Bendik Hofseth, Mats Eilertsen and Jarle Vespestad."

-Grappa (https://www.grappa.no/en/artist/espen-eriksen/)
3/27/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Lars Tormod Jenset (born 17th January 1978 in Midsund in Møre og Romsdal) is a Norwegian jazz bassist. After joining Molde High School and Viken Folkehøgskole , he studied from around 2000 for five years at the Rhythmic Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen. From 2007 he has lived in Oslo and worked as a freelance teacher and artist. He has played in several bands, such as Hot N Spicy (former Pillow) together with Bjarke Falgren and Svein Erik Martinsen. From 2007 he has been in the Oslo band The Union with Ola Welo (saxophon), Tomas Heggdal (piano), and Martin Wister (drums). He has played bass in Bendik Giske Kvintett (with Gunnar Halle, Simon Toldam, Erik Nylander), Light Airborne (with Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard, Christoffer Møller and Morten Lund), Espen Eriksen Trio (with Andreas Bye) and Rodent (with Haukur Grøndal, Jarkko Hakala and Helgi Sv. Helgason). There have been more album releases with the different bands."

-Wikipedia (Translated by Google) (https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Tormod_Jenset)
3/27/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Andreas Bye is a Norwegian jazz drummer, born 1975. He is known for groupsAnders Aarum Trio, Bugge & Friends, Espen Eriksen Trio, Knut Reiersrud Band, Kompen Quintet, Øystein Sevåg Global House Band, Sigurd Køhn Quartet, The Rainbow Band"

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/781725-Andreas-Bye)
3/27/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Where The River Runs 4:57

2. Back To Base 4:31

3. Dancing Demons 5:50

4. End Of Summer 3:56

5. Transparent Darkness 6:23

6. A Long Way From Home 4:37

7. Reminiscence 7:04

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Trio Recordings
Piano Trio (Piano Bass Drums)
Melodic and Lyrical Jazz
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The Squid's Ear Magazine

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