Playlist for Tom Ossana / Dane Brewer – The Thin Edge – June 1, 2016 MST 7:00 to 9:00p.m.

The King TOM OSSANA

www.kzmu.org/listen.m3u ~ Use this link to access the show online.

Italian saxophonist Max Ionata is among the leading players in the contemporary jazz scene. His new 2016 Via Veneto Jazz release, Rewind, gets this week's Thin Edge off the ground with his "Bob's Mood" featuring Max's sax with bandmates Frits Landesbergen - drums and vibraphone, Alberto Gurrisi - Hammond organ. Newcomer Kansan, Allison Burk, and her Quartet gives us a take on "Antlers" with a primarily feminine ensemble from her self-produced Mythos. Seattle's pianist Aaron Parks gets together with Dane's Thomas Fonnesbæk (bass), Karsten Bagge (drums) in Stunt Records' 2016 release, Groovements in a cover of Cedar Walton's "Bolivia." Vibist Warren Wolf joins forces with Christian McBride (b), Jeff "Tain" Watts (d) and famed guitarist John Scofield in a performance of Wolf's "Soul Sister" from Warren's new Mack Avenue Convergence. Woody Herman brings this half to a close with the still relevant Shorty Roger's composition, "More Moon" - based on the chord changes of Nancy Hamilton's "How High the Moon" - recorded by Capitol Records in 1949 (later reimagined by Columbia years later). 

The tune features a remarkable solo by saxophonist Gene Ammons as well as solos from vibist Terry Gibbs and Bill Harris' trombone - amazing what early artists compressed into the mandatory three minutes available in 78rpm shellac recordings.

Brand new from one of our favorite reed men comes a cover of Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge" from Wheels of Time, a Flying Dolphin Records release featuring Christof Saenger: piano; Rudi Engel: bass; Heinrich Koebberling: drums. Next we'll hear from Polish pianist newcomer, Wójciński Szmańda and his Quartet's Delusions (SLUCHAJ FUNDACJA 2016). Wójciński's "Flood" is eerily similar, but free-jazzier, to Tomasz Stańko's approach in his 2004 ECM Suspended Night featuring our favorite pianist, Marcin Wasilewski. 

Beloved Italian trumpeter, Enrico Rava, follows with a new Casa Del Jazz release, My Songbook, featuring the alto of Daniele Tittarelli in a performance of "Choctaw." Closing this segment, we'll hear from famed Argentine pianist, Eduardo Elia, in a solo cover of Coltrane's "Giant Steps" from Eduardo's 2016 Blue Art Records release Solo.

German bassist, Henning Sieverts, gets the third half rolling with his 2016 PIROUET Double Quartet playing his "Hexa Countdown" featuring Loren Stillman on reeds. Brit Matthew Hasall gives a dynamic 6 count waltz, "Music for a Dancing Mind," from his new Gondwana Records' On the Go featuring the leader's trumpet and pianist Adam Fairhall and saxophonist Nat Birchall. Burke and Webster's "Black Coffee" gets an instrumental treatment from Cleveland's trumpeter Dominick Farnacci from his 2016 Mack Avenue Short Stories with help from all-stars Christian McBride, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Jacob Collier, Jamey Haddad and Gil Goldstein.

Elton John - with mysteriously troubling lyrics from Bernie Taupin - gets romance started with one of his finest, "Come Down in Time" from his 1970 release, Tumbleweed Connection. Pianist Victor Gould gives an unusual romantic twist to Miles' "Nefertiti" from his Fresh Sound New Talent release Clockwork with help from E. J. Strickland (d) and Ben Williams (b). Dukes of Hazard alumni, Tom Wopat, becomes one the foremost jazz vocalists, beginning with his cover of Coleman and Leigh's "You Fascinate Me So" from his 2011 LML Music Consider It Swung. Alain Jean Marie, a jazz pianist born in 1945 in Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, joins forces with Danish bassist Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen performing Marie's "No Tears" from France's IDA Records 1998 Latin Alley. 

From Stan Kenton's circa 1948 Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with June Christy we get June's admonition, "I Told Ya I Love Ya (Now Get Out!)" penned by Benny Carter, Herb Ellis and Johnny Frigo. Award winning Charlie Ventura and his 1946 Bop for the People is next with Jackie and Roy Kral's scat vocal, "Euphoria" featuring Ventura's sax and Bennie Green's trombone: wordless romance from the 40s! Roy Ayers slams the door on romance, at least as far as this show is concerned, with "Nasté" from his 1995 RCA recording of the same name. Roy plays the vibes and sings and is supported by James Moody ("Moody's Mood for Love") on soprano sax.

Let's have some fun!

A special thanks to KZMU's Music Director, Serah Mead and the troops @ RoJ for their help putting the show together: Agenor (BRA), Chris do Brasil (BRA), Domi & Victor (SPA), GAB (BEL), JR (SPA), Javi (SPA), Jazzzz61 (SPA), Lira (BRA), Luisa, Menos Que un Perro (ARG), Marcos (BRA), Melokan (VEN), Raz (ISR) and Sonia (SPA). Also friend, Raul Boeira, the Brazilian based in Passo Fundo and Spain's Javier Carrete.

The Rhythm Future Quartet - Travels (2016)

The Rhythm Future Quartet Performs Friday, June 24 

 At the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival

Celebrating New Album Travels

 Acclaimed Group Brings Gypsy Jazz into the 21st Century

“Jason Anick is easily one of the best jazz violinists of his generation.” – Christian Howe

 “Rhythm Future Quartet breaks new ground for Gypsy jazz” – Jon Garelick, The Boston Globe

 “...among the worthiest current day successors to the legacy of the great Django”

– Will Friedwald, The Wall Street Journal

“These young men are incredible!!!” – Tommy Emmanuel

Click here to stream "The Keeper" from Travels

The Rhythm Future Quartet brings its unique brand of 21st century Gypsy jazz to the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival on Friday, June 24 in celebration of its new CD Travels. The quartet features chief soloists Jason Anick on violin and Olli Soikkeli on guitar, along with second guitarist Max O’Rourke and bassist Greg Loughman. Shows take place at 6 and 10 p.m. at Montage Music Hall. For more information, visit www.rochesterjazz.com

Comprised of forward thinking and prodigiously gifted players, the Rhythm Future Quartet continues its deeply felt mission to situate Gypsy jazz firmly in the here and now. On Travels, scintillating original compositions, dazzling improvisation and one-mind ensemble playing convert the swinging string driven sounds of the past into a viable and vital style that speaks directly to jazz lovers of the present.   The album was released February 26, 2016 on Magic Fiddle Music.

As DownBeat publisher Frank Alkyer writes: “The future of Gypsy jazz is in good hands with the Rhythm Future Quartet.... Anick is a fluid violinist and Soikkeli flat-out blisters on guitar... The musicianship throughout this 13-song set is breathtaking.... Rhythm Future, indeed.  I look forward to listening to this group for a long, long time.”

Rhythm Future Quartet (named after the Django Reinhardt composition “Rhythm Futur”) has itself evolved since its self-titled 2014 debut recording. Where that critically acclaimed release drew on standards as its core repertoire, Travels is largely devoted to group originals, compositions that touch on the tenants of the Gypsy jazz style yet thoroughly reflect the contemporary mindset of the makers. These ten new pieces are interwoven with shrewd reinterpretations of Bireli Lagrene’s “Made In France,” Paul Durand’s “Je Sui Seul Ce Soir” and, in a slinky arrangement that signals the band’s willingness to expand the scope of the Gypsy jazz idiom, Lennon and McCartney’s “Come Together.” Each of these thirteen performances display the awing virtuosity and sublime lyricism of the featured instrumentalists as well as the enviable cohesion of a musical unit that breathes as a collective entity.

 As its title infers, Travels reflects the nomadic nature of the band and its individual members. “Over the past two and a half years, the group has done extensive traveling all over the world,” Anick says, “We used this time to work together to compose and co-arrange all the material that culminated into this new record.” With over 50 different countries between the four members throughout their careers, traveling has certainly been a big part of both their group and individual development, expanding their musical and cultural horizons and ultimately inspiring new compositions that tie all of these experiences together. Besides the literal sense of the word, Anick states, “This album also travels in the musical sense, traversing various musical landscapes from around the world, which opened up new rhythmic and melodic possibilities and allowed the group to take its Gypsy jazz influenced music into the future.” The international influences are easily heard in such Anick pieces as “Vesella” which incorporates Balkan music rhythms within the mix, and “Amsterdam” and “The Keeper” which are inflected with Latin rhythms and textures.

If rousing performances including “Bushwick Stomp” (which celebrates Finnish guitarist Soikkeli’s move to his present Brooklyn home) and “Don’t Tell Me” and “Made In France” are within the traditional Gypsy jazz vein, such pieces as “Travels,” “Still Winter” and “Round Hill” speak of RF’s new musical expression, a vision that makes effective use of more atmospheric textures and reflective moods. “We want to bring it all to the table,” Anick says, “Variety is valuable for our listeners and for us as players.”

Clearly this is not the Gypsy jazz for purists. “Instead of putting our own stamp on beloved material we are trying to bring new material to the forefront,” Anick states. “We’re trying to bridge a gap. We aim to draw in listeners that respond to the best of the tradition–the energy, the rhythm, the exciting virtuosity, the deep emotion­–and then take a leap of faith and open their ears up to new soundscapes. We as a group are trying to prove that a music normally associated with older players can now provide personal expression for younger players of today.”

Jason Anick

Olli Soikkeli

Max O’Rourke

Greg Loughman

One of the youngest instructors at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Jason Anick, now 30, is rapidly making a name for himself in the world of jazz violin and mandolin. In addition to leading his own contemporary jazz ensemble and performing with the Rhythm Future Quartet, Anick has been touring and recording with Grammy award-winning Nashville guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson since 2008 when he was recruited while still a senior at Hartt Conservatory. In addition to his work with the Rhythm Future Quartet, Anick has released two highly acclaimed albums as a leader, Tipping Point (2014) and Sleepless (2010). A versatile and sought after side-man, Anick has also shared the stage with an array of artists like Stevie Wonder, John Sebastian, The Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Tommy Emmanuel, and Delta Rae. 

Olli Soikkeli was born in 1991 in Nurmes, Finland. He started playing guitar at the age of 12 and, once he heard the music of Django Reinhardt, he was hooked.  He’s been performing Gypsy jazz ever since and has performed in jazz clubs and festivals in Finland and beyond. He currently lives in NYC and has performed with Bucky Pizzarelli, Cyrille Aimee, Tommy Emmanuel, Anat Cohen and many more, garnering him the title, ‘the Finish Boy Wonder’.  He’s released two albums under his own name in addition to albums with Rhythm Future Quartet.  The Wall Street Journal heralded him as “a riveting Finnish guitarist who combines astonishing dexterity and speed with pure soul.”

Vermont native Max O’Rourke is quickly earning a reputation as one of the top young Gypsy jazz guitarists of his day.  The 19-year-old was the winner of the 2015 Saga Award from DjangoFest Northwest and is currently a student at Berklee College of Music.  In addition to performing with the Rhythm Future Quartet, he has shared the stage with the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet and the Grammy winning John Jorgenson Quartet.

Greg Loughman is an “emphatically lyrical” (JazzTimes), versatile and sensitive bassist who’s performed with numerous jazz greats including George Garzone, Curtis Fuller, Jerry Bergonzi, Joanne Brackeen, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan and many others. He currently leads his own indie rock group Lowman and performs with the John Funkhouser Trio, Klezwoods, and many others.

Rhythm Future Quartet Website

Jason Anick Website

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The Rhythm Future Quartet EVENTS

(click here)

Sound Underground - Quiet Spaces (2016) KARI-ON PRODUCTIONS

BIOGRAPHY BRIEF 

Sound Underground is a compact trio with an expansive imagination. Their inquisitive approach is guided by words of wisdom from jazz legend Wayne Shorter: “You’ve got to go down in the basement and visit every note.” Composed of saxophonist David Leon, trumpeter Alec Aldred and guitarist Jonah Udall, the collective steers through inventive textures far beyond the limits of its unconventional chamber instrumentation.

The trio’s music emanates the warmth of its members’ close friendships. They hail from far-flung corners of the United States - Udall is from Berkeley, California, Aldred from Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Leon from Miami, Florida - and formed in 2013 while living together in Miami, building the close personal bonds that ground their strong musical connection. One can hear it in their performance, which is infused with the kind of trust that can only be built over years, on the bandstand and off.

Intimate and conversational, Sound Underground’s music traverses the lengths of acoustic jazz, and beyond. The trio draws on a broad array of influences including Americana and Bulgarian folklore, and stands upon influence from genre-bending luminaries such as Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Giuffre, Joni Mitchell and Jim Hall to distill a unique and deeply personal voice. They weave together these diverse sources with an uncommon penchant for storytelling, crafting intriguing narratives with each piece and performance. At once serious and whimsical, thought-provoking and smile-inducing, their music inspires emotional journeys that feel immediately relevant and true.

At the same time, the trio’s textural transparency reveals a colorful heterophony: three compelling individual voices that are as different as they are complementary. Their divergent backgrounds create a musical dialog that is rich with personality. All exceptional composers and improvisers in their own right, the members of Sound Underground come together to produce a sum that is greater than its parts. The result is a sincere and striking reflection of who they are. Emanating from the soul, their music expresses their humanity unfiltered – embracing all of its subtleties and imperfections.

Sound Underground released its self-titled debut in 2014 with a tour of Eastern Europe, performing at major international jazz festivals in Bulgaria and Serbia. They have been on the rise ever since, touring on both U.S. coasts as well as returning to the continent. AllAboutJazz.com praised the trio as “a fresh sound... uncluttered and open... capable of grabbing a listener’s attention and holding it indefinitely,” calling their debut “a highly enjoyable album that leaves one thirsting for its successor.” With Quiet Spaces a captivating successor has arrived, inviting a closer listen.

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Scott Kinsey - Near Life Experience (2016)

Source & Label:

Genre: Fusion

GAB's Rating: ★★★★★

Near Life Experience is Keyboard whiz Scott Kinsey’s sophomore solo album after Kinesthetics, released almost 10 years ago in 2006. Considered by many to be Tribal Tech’s secret weapon, Scott either penned or co-wrote nine out of the twelve tunes on the record. Near Life Experience features a terrific version of Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues featuring Jason Joseph on vocals as well as the amazing Lalah Hathaway who contributes some incredible wordless vocal improvising on Siya, an element of her artistry seldom heard. The terrific 12 track album features a long list of A-Listers who bring their best to the game; Michael Landau, Kirk Fletcher on guitar, Gary Novak, Danny Carey, Kirk Covington, Gergo Borlai, Karim Ziad on the drums, long time collaborator Matthew Garrison, Jimmy Earl, and Hadrein Feraud on bass along with Arto Tuncoboyacian among others on percussion. While Scott certainly pays homage to his friend and guru Joe Zawinul in moments, he more importantly carves out his own unique and definitive voice like never before, as highlighted on the explosive title track on the album.  

01. Rave (SK)
02. Inner City Blues (Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr.)
03. Lies (SK, Tim Hagans)
04. Burbank Boulevard (Arto Tuncboyaciyan, SK)
05. Money Maker (SK)
06. Near Life Experience (SK)
07. Kingpin (SK)
08. Siya (SK)
09. Baba Moussa (Trad)
10. Fulani (Trad)
11. Dream Catcher Pt 1 (SK, Kirk Covington)
12. Dream Catcher Pt 2 (Matthew Garrison, SK)

Scott Kinsey (Synthesizer, Piano and Vocoder)
Steve Tavaglione (Alto, Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute)
Seamus Blake (Tenor Saxophone)
Judd Miller (Evi)
Martin Ptak (Trombone)
Michael Landau (Electric Guitar)
Kirk Fletcher (Electric Guitar)
Lalah Hathaway (Vocals)
Arto Tunçboyaciyan (Vocals)
Jason Joseph (Vocals)
Maalem Hamid El Kasri(Vocals)
Maalem Hassan Boussou (Vocals)
Matthew Garrison (Bass)
Jimmy Earl (Bass)
Hadrien Feraud (Bass)
Tim Lefevbre (Bass)
Hassan Boussou (Guimbri)
Arto Tunçboyaciyan (Percussion)
Brad Dutz (Percussion)
Aloke Dutta (Tabla)
Yéyé Kanté (Djembe, Kalimba)
Rhani Krija (Percussion)
Aly Keita (Balifon)
Gary Novak (Drums)
Danny Carey (Drums)
Kirk Covington (Drums)
Cyril Atef (Drums)
Gergo Borlai (Drums)
Karim Ziad (Drums) 

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Seamus Blake / Chris Cheek with Reeds Ramble Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (2016)

Source & Label:

Genre: Post-bop

GAB's Rating: ★★★★★

 Deepening a two-tenor partnership that dates back to the mid-'90s, saxophonists Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek follow up their quintet release "Reeds Ramble" (Criss 1364) with Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, featuring the same powerful band lineup (Ethan Iverson on piano, Matt Penman on bass, Jochen Rueckert on drums).

While they stand apart as gifted soloists, Blake and Cheek always flourish as a team, bringing luster to every tune with their lyrical unison melodies and beautifully harmonized theme statements.

Spontaneity plays a big role, as it should when improvisers of this caliber get together (Iverson's versatility and off-kilter eloquence comes through with particular strength).

But foremost, what distinguishes this group is the logic and efficiency of its arrangements, whether slow and spacious or brisk and complex; from originals and modernist classics to standards of '20s and '30s vintage.  

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Thomas Fonnesbæk - Where We Belong (2015)

Thomas Fonnesbæk, dansk kontrabasist vi hört ingående i Lars Jansson trio. Och det är exakt denna trio som Fonnesbæk denna gång står som ledare för. Och det för andra gången. En skiva betitlad Sound of my Colors kom för två år sedan. Where We Belong har jag lyssnat till samma vecka som jag även kunnat höra trion under Lars Janssons ledarskap när de genomför sin turné i Sverige.

Det är en stark trio vare sig den heter Thomas Fonnesbæk eller Lars Jansson Trio.Här är det Fonnesbæk kompositioner som spelas plus några titlar av andra kompositörer. Som välkända Beautiful Love och Just in Time, från Victor Young respektive Jules Stynes penna samt Carl Nielsens allvarligt vackra lätt vemodiga Solen er så rød, mor. En touch av nationalism involverad i jazzmusiken precis så som hans läromästare Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen också gjorde i några av sina skivor.

Sju verk från Thomas Fonnesbæk´s penna bjuds, plus två där hela trion, pianist Lars Jansson, Paul Svanberg trummor och basist Thomas Fonnesbæk anges som kompositörer. Musik tillkommen i stunden betitlade No Gluten Please och The Swedish Way, med sökande lågmält spel likaväl som med hett engagemang i ett parti i den senare. Som en dialog mellan instrumenten. Det som tilltalar som allra mest här är ändå Fonnesbæk´s egna verk som inleder lyssnandet. Med spröda stråkbas toner av Fonnesbæk helt ensam i Norrland, som byggs på i allvarligt vackert samspel med trion. I högtidligt allvarliga The Accounter, kan man spåra folkmusikens påbrå. Do It, sprudlande funkrytmik och lyriska titelmelodin Where We Belong samt First Impressions Last, med flera är kreativ nutidsjazz som engagerar.

Det är helt enkelt variationsrik triojazz när det är som bäst. I tätt intensivt samspel parat med känsla för melodisk skönhet som trion väver samman till en fungerande enhet sedan många års samarbete. Lägg därtill synnerligen skickligt och lyriskt/melodiskt solospel med sting från alla tre. Och det är en trio som vi kunnat glädjas åt i tidigare skivor likaväl som liveframträdanden. Och det spelar ingen roll vem av triomedlemmarna som står som ledare. Thord Ehnberg

Norrland

Cooking

The Accounter

First Impressions

No Gluten, Please

Do It!

I Am Who I Am

Where We Belong

Beautiful Love

The Swedish Way

Solen Er Så Röd Mor

Just In Time

Thomas Fonnesbæk, bass

Lars Jansson, piano

Paul Svanberg, drums

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Morten Ankarfeldt Lazy Travelers - Instantaneous (2016)

Bassisten Morten Ankarfeldt klar med yndlingskvartet, nyt album og releasekoncert d. 6.maj 

Den nydannede kvartet, Ankarfeldt's Lazy Travelers, med Morten Ankarfeldt i front, er nu klar med deres første plade, Instantanios, i starten af maj. Materialet er udelukkende ny musik og Ankarfeldt har inviteret tre af sine yndlingsmusikere med i kvartetten, nemlig de to blæsere Jakob Dinesen og Mads Hyhne samt Jeppe Gram på trommer. Kvartetten spiller deres første koncert sammen nogensinde i Kvarterhuset Amagerbro d. 6.maj. 

Når albummet Instantanios med Ankarfeldt's Lazy Travelers rammer gaden, er det et album som er komponeret ud fra øjeblikket, uden filter og forbehold. Morten Ankarfeldt forklarer:

”Det er et album, som titlen også hentyder til, der er skabt i øjeblikket og er et billeder på det intuitive. Musikken er indspillet i studiet efter ganske få gennemspilninger er optaget med alle musikere i det samme indspilningsrum, hvilket giver en intensitet og en oldschool sound – og desuden ingen mulighed for efterredigering.

Det har derigennem været min intention at give musikken en friskhed og en umiddelbarhed der forhåbentlig skinner igennem. ” 

Samlet et stærkt hold af jazzmusikere

Morten Ankarfeldt har længe gået og drømt om at lave et projekt sammen med sine yndlingsmusikere og fik chancen i 2015:

”Ankarfeldt's Lazy Travelers er et nyere projekt, men en konstellation og et line-up der i længere tid har ligget og boblet og ventet på igangsættelse. Mine tre yndlingsmusikere, som jeg har inviteret med i kvartetten, er hentet i den helt tunge og erfarne liga. Ganske få musikere har en fælles lyd som de to blæsere, Jakob Dinesen og Mads Hyhne. Musikken bevæger sig rundt i et moderne jazz landskab, farvet af alle de forskellige genre jeg i tidens løb har beskæftiget mig med.”

Morten Ankarfeldt er målrettet gået efter at komponere musikken netop til disse tre kreative og spændende musikere. Han har været fokusret på at skabe bedst mulig plads og rum til, at de med deres stærke personlige udtryk og spillestil, kunne spille hans musik på deres egen måde. Dette skaber også et rum for lytteren der inviteres til selv at fortolke musikken. Ankarfeldt tilføjer:

”Den akkordløse kvartet åbner for udtryksmulighederne i de musikalske rammer og giver med sin transparente lyd plads og luft til eftertænksomhed. Jeg har en klar ambition om at give lytteren en nem mulighed for at lægge egne følelser ind i musikken.”

Kvartetten holder releasekoncert d. 6.maj i Kvarterhuset Amagerbro, hvor der vil være verdenspremiere på den nykomponeret musik. Billetter kan købes her

Hvis du er interesseret i at læse mere om musikeren Morten Ankarfeldt og hans musikalske univers, så kan det findes http://www.ankarfeldt.com/ Hvis du vil læse mere om kvartetten Ankarfeldt's Lazy Travelers kan det findes. Read more...

Morten Ankarfeldt Website / Facebook

01. Blue See Through

02. Ofra Afro

03. Moochy Mood

04. Old News

05. Hymn to Hugo

06. Minor Identity

07. Dangerous Dave

08. Lazy Infinity

09. Grandpa's XL Blues

Morten Ankarfeldt - Upright Bass

Jakob Dinesen - Saxophone

Mads Hyhne - Trombone

Jeppe Gram - Drums

Recordet by Jesper Ankarfeldt

Mixed by Bjørn Gjessing

Mastered by Brian Mørk Hansen

Album cover:

Graphic design by Maria Tran Larsen

Picture by Matilde Haaning

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