Republic of Jazz: Jacob Anderskov - Resonance (STUNT RECORDS 2016)

Monday, October 31, 2016

Jacob Anderskov - Resonance (STUNT RECORDS 2016)

Danish pianist, composer and bandleader Jakob Anderskov is inspired by a Miles Davis quotation, “You listen… then you play”.

To react meaningfully with others depends on your ability to take in your surroundings while acting in accordance with who you are. Then you will have genuine interplay! The work method of Anderskov’s group a string trio, Peter Bruun on drums and percussion, and bandleader Anderskov on piano is directed towards creating the ideal convergence where each musician’s identity and integrity remains intact.

RESONANCE is the group’s second album. Their first release, STRINGS, PERCUSSION & PIANO, was nominated in the “Special Release” category at the 2013 Danish Music Awards and received glowing reviews as an “outstanding” album.

On his new release, the constantly explorative Anderskov has delved even deeper into the world of pulse and phrasing – yes, feeling! His compositions create a soundscape in which the texture and timbre of the strings become a fully integrated part of the music instead of the superimposed role often delegated to strings in jazz.

The rhythm section is allowed improvisational freedom without having to avoid colliding with the strings that join a wonderful dialogue between the imaginative piano playing and the colorful and richly nuanced percussion to create fascinating textural music.

This music may have previously been called “third stream”, an ambitious endeavor to fusion jazz and European compositional music, but also a controversial genre, as many felt that a natural synthesis between the two musical worlds was impossible. Fortunately, the distance between jazz and classical music seems to have dwindled, and there are many interesting and satisfying contributions to jazz and improvisational music in this “third direction”.

Ornette Coleman died while Anderskov was composing the music for the album. Few musicians have meant as much to Jacob Anderskov, so he decided to pay tribute to him with What Reason Could I Give, originally from the legendary SCIENCE FICTION album. The rest of the compositions are Anderskov’s. Hopefully, this album will be experienced as a fruitful combination of the elements of which it consists. Although the music points in many different directions, the listener will hopefully hear it as a spontaneous experience, as extremely meaningful, sometimes magical – as an album that stays with you!

Jacob Anderskov (b.1975) has released close to twenty albums as a bandleader and co-bandleader since his debut in 2001 – mainly for the musicians collective label ILK. RESONANCE is his first Stunt release. Over the years he has received many awards and much recognition locally and internationally as an extraordinary voice in contemporary music.