Die Töne tropfen aus den Händen des Pianisten Tord Gustavsen. Sanft legt der Schlagzeuger ein zartes Rauschen unter die Melodie, dann stiehlt der Bass sich hinein, alles fügt sich zu einem Lied im Kopf des Hörers, fließt wieder weg und verklingt. Die musikalischen Wurzeln Tord Gustavsens liegen im frühen Jazz, im Blues und im Gospel. Er verbindet auf ganz eigene Weise die Musik aus der Karibik mit New Orleans Jazz und bringt die Jazzgeschichte in einen musikalischen Dialog mit der Besinnlichkeit und Wehmut nordischer Klänge. Wer ihm lauscht, kann hören, wie das Rauschen der norwegischen Wälder und das Surren der Baumwollfelder des amerikanischen Südens sich vereinen.

"Gustavsens diskrete Gospel-Wurzeln und seine musikalische Akribie versetzen die Hörer in ehrfürchtiges Schweigen."

(John Fordham, Guardian)

Tord Gustavsen Ensemble

ALBUM RELEASE AND TOUR 2012

This is music that sings, at once gentle and robust. Listeners are invited into a musical universe of tender lyricism and subtle groove.

Pianist Tord Gustavsen has released four critically acclaimed albums on ECM Records with his trio and his extended ensemble. He has toured extensively worldwide over a period of eight years. His upcoming 2012 fifth release brings you the quartet version of Tord Gustavsen Ensemble, featuring Tore Brunborg on saxophones; Mats Eilertsen on bass; and Jarle Vespestad on drums.

The extended ensemble is a natural prolongation of Tord’s trio work, keeping up a radical search for artistic honesty in stripped-down beauty. But the new formation also adds new colours and dimensions to Tord’s music – through the sensibilities of some of the most intriguing players on the vibrant and eclectic Scandinavian jazz scene. Since the release of the previous ensemble album, the quartet has taken its integration of spare minimalism and a kind of darker, denser interplay further. The upcoming release will still lean heavily on strong melodies and less-is-more attitude. But it also shows traces of inspiration from more complex Scandinavian folk dance rhythms. And Tord’s compositions are somewhat more harmonically elaborate this time, although staying true to the emphasis on down-to-earth musical sensuality.

Tord Gustavsen (piano) | Pianist Tord Gustavsen has released four critically acclaimed albums on ECM Records with his trio. Before starting his solo career, Tord had already been an important part of the Norwegian jazz scene for several years. His playing has formed a cornerstone in projects featuring some of the finest Norwegian singers, including Silje Nergaard, Kristin Asbjørnsen and Solveig Slettahjell. The urge for individual expression fuses with acutely attentive listening in creative interplay, making Tord a very special experience both as a soloist and as an ensemble player. His way of conversing jazz history with 'Nordic' reflective moods and lyrical beauty brings about an intriguing voice on today's music scene. Tord Gustavsen has been touring world-wide with his projects the last 7–8 years, playing at major festivals and concert halls in Australia, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Japan, Korea, and the Scandinavian countries. He has received numerous awards including the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannsprisen), CHOC critical awards (France), Bell Award for best international Jazz Album (Australia), Recording of the Month in Stereophile Magazine (USA), and NOPAs Musikkpris for best jazz composition in 2010.

Jarle Vespestad (drums) | The kind of sublime minimalism Jarle stands for has very few if any parallels in the world of drummers, and still he is also really groovy in his own way. His lyrical emphasis; and the highly responsive interplay developed between Tord and himself over the years; are essential elements of the band’s musical texture. Jarle also plays with key Scandinavian bands Farmers Market and Silje Nergaard Band, and was a member of the groundbreaking project Supersilent up until 2008.

Mats Eilertsen (acoustic bass) | Mats plays his acoustic bass with a unique combination of solid, sensuous accompaniment and constant creative thinking, making him a very special musical partner. He works bands like Bobo Stenson’s Parish, Jacob Young Group, Wolfert Brederode Quartet, and The Source. He has also released three critically acclaimed recordings under his own name, highlighting his talents as a composer.

Tore Brunborg (saxophones) | Tore’s approach to music is quite unique in the world of saxophonists, taking Jan Garbarek’s innovations in European jazz to new levels throughout his career since the early 80’s. Tore has a strong lyrical ‘voice’ on his instrument, bridging Scandinavian folk music influences with jazz traditions in a very special way. He is the perfect complement to Tord’s melodic playing, and their interplay has gone far beyond the normal roles of ‘soloist’ and accompaniment . Tore’s experience as a band leader and ensemble musician covers a wide range of the most important European jazz musicians over several decades, with the legendary Norwegian group Masqualero as a starting point in the 1980’s. He has played with Jon Christensen, Arild Andersen, Jon Balke, Nils Petter Molvær, Bugge Wesseltoft, Anders Jormin to name a few – and he also currently leads a quartet with British pianist John Taylor.

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