Andorra - Andorra ( November 12, 2021 April Records)

Andorra members are all educated at the Funen Music Conservatory, and it has for a long time been a wish for all members to gather again for a common love of music. During the last years corona lockdown, the opportunity arose.

Since the time of the conservatory each of them have developed in all musical directions, but it has now resulted in a beautiful collaboration with great genre versatility which is expressed in their distinctive and grandiose sound.

Mads La Cour: Award-winning trumpeter / flugelhornist / cornetist. Employed in the DR Big Band as the 4th trumpeter. MLC is a very versatile musician and has with his own group “Almugi” released the records “quartet” and “Hule”. Received the award as Funen jazz musician of the year in 2007 and was awarded the P2 jazz award the same year. In 2009 he got a Danish Music Award for his debut release Mads la Cour "à la Cour" as the new name of the year.

Morten Jørgensen: Educated musician at the Funen Music Conservatory with a major in electric bass. He plays regularly with The White Album and Søren Huss.

Nikolaj Bundvig: Educated on drums at the Funen Music Conservatory. Has worked with Alex Canasta, Blue Foundation.

Simon Krebs: He is a graduated guitarist from the Funen Music Conservatory and has two critically acclaimed albums in his own name with original compositions and arrangements - ‘Blur’ and ‘Please Don’t Feed The Fears’. He has also recorded with names like Anders Mogensen, Julie Berthelsen and Tomasz Dabrowski. Received the award as Funen's jazz musician of the year in 2009.

Peter Kohlmetz Møller: Danish composer, pianist and producer living in Svendborg. Educated at the Funen Music Conservatory. Known for his genre-twisting work on synthesizers with The Eclectic Moniker, his compositions for Danmarks Radio’s documentary department and his work as a composer in many theater performances, including at Teater Momentum, Edison and the Royal Theatre Copenhagen. 

1. Travelling 06:25

2. Orbit 07:33

3. The Abandoned Circus 07:11

4. The Poet 08:08

5. Manifolk 06:56

6. Trip One 04:30

Peter Kohlmetz Møller – Fender Rhodes, Ondes Martenot & Keyboards

Mads la Cour – Flugelhorn & Trumpet

Simon Krebs – Guitars

Nikolaj Bundvig – Drums

Morten Jørgensen – Bass

Produced by Andorra

Recorded by Peter Hellesøe

Mixed by Aske Bode & Andorra

Mastered by Aske Bode

Photos by Jesper Van

Liner Notes by Palle Mikkelborg

Cover design by Enrico Andreis

All compositions by Andorra

Published by April Publishing ApS

Mads la Cour is endorsed by Eclipse Trumpets

PREORDER

Polymetrum Ensemble - Eastern Influence (July 2021)

Eastern Influence is a suite in 4 parts composed by Rasmus Henriksen, and played by Polymetrum Ensemble. A jazz septet from Odense, Denmark featuring some of the best players from the area.

Composers note:

The inspiration for this album comes from the many great jazz recordings made behind the Iron Curtain in the 60s and 70s. A composers imaginary travel through time, picking up inspiration for his own music.

My intention has not been to imitate the music, but rather to use it as a starting point for my own compositions. The result is a suite in 4 parts that pays tribute to my favorite East European musicians and composers. Enjoy listening. Rasmus Henriksen

1. Metamorphosen 15:48

2. Radiant Sunset

3. Junctions for Restlessness

4. Bewegung

Kasper Wagner (alto & soprano saxes, flute)

Andreas Bøttiger (tenor & baritone saxes)

Mads la Cour (trumpet & flugelhorn)

Rasmus Henriksen (trombone)

Łukasz Borowicki (guitar)

Mariusz Praśniewski (double bass)

Anders Mogensen (drums)

Recorded at Peak Productions, Odense, on December 4th & 5th 2020 by Jesper Malling

Mixed and Mastered at Pelles Room, Copenhagen, by Pelle Fridell

Pre-order

Mads la Cour’s Almugi - Hule (WHY PLAY JAZZ 2018)

Fascinating melodies are spiritually bound together as Almugi skirts the well-traveled highways on its way to forging new paths. An emotive music from the European North amazes with its sophisticated originality, as it creates an earthy, natural musical atmosphere.

Played by a band with an uncanny feel for one another, the music on Mads la Cours’ fourth album, “Almugi” revels in a subtle intimacy. This Danish musician’s compositions point the direction towards a uniquely well-rounded music, balanced, truthful, and played with a deliberate intensity.

Despite the dangers and ever-increasing problems in the world, the goal is to find the beauty that surrounds us, to acknowledge and never lose sight of that beauty. The musicians all stem from the Danish island of Fünen; they are all in their late 30’s, and busy with various musical projects, yet since 2015 they have made this band their focal point. There is something grating and ruff-edged; the horns splinter the tones, compress and assimilate the sounds in such a way that an earthy, natural musical atmosphere is created and maintained. Nothing is smoothed over or pre-packaged.

Mads la Cour is searching for that which is good and true. He is concerned about the human indifference and the lack of altruism around us. It angers him when the wrong people gain control of the levers of power. His composition "Støjland Møgland" alludes to Inger Støjberg, the Danish Minister for Immigration, Integration, and Housing. “Terminus” refers to a jazz club in France that offers ideal working conditions. “Gammelton” is a hymn to his parents. The title piece, “Hule”, concerns itself with a cave used as refuge, a safe haven against stress and anxiety, a place in which one would want to sign up to stay. However, the art on this album is bound to earthy nature, face to face with the world’s wounds and wonders.

There is a transparent texture and elasticity to the music. Fascinating melodies are spiritually bound together. The album skirts the well-traveled highways as it forges new paths. “Almugi” is the ancient Scandinavian word that signifies “free men of the Kingdom who possess the quality of goodness” – a fitting word for the players and music on this album.

Concerts 2018

Jul 12, 2018 - Kopenhagen, DK @ Kvarterhuset, Copenhagen Jazz Festival

Sep 03, 2018 - Kopenhagen, DK @ 5E

Sep 05, 2018 - Århus, DK @ Sun Ship

Sep 06, 2018 - Svendborg, DK @ Giant Steps

Sep 08, 2018 - Stockholm, SE @ Glen Miller

Immer Schön #1  4:36

Terminus  5:41

Støjland Møgland  6:24

Hule  5:53

Immer Schön #2  4:31

Gammelton  4:33

Impro  0:52

Bølgebop, Bølgebop  3:18

Immer Schön #3  3:07

Mads la Cour (cornet, flugelhorn)

Lars Greve (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone)

Kasper Tom Christiansen (drums)

Mariusz Praśniewski (double bass)

Recorded 1st & 2nd of May 2017 by Chris Weeda at Fattoria Musica Studios, Osnabrück, Germany Mixed by Chris Weeda

Mastered Peter Hellesøe

All compositions by Mads la Cour

Produced by Mads la Cour for WhyPlayJazz

Design and artwork by Travassos

Cover art: Woodcut by Per Kirkeby, © Donation Jorn, Silkeborg / Per Kirkeby

With support from Svendborg Musikråd, DJBFA, Dansk Artist Forbund and Dansk Skuespillerforbund