Espen Berg presents "Water Fabric", a boundary-breaking and breathtaking new album.
With nine exceptionally strong trio and solo albums Espen Berg (40) has become one of the most central and tone-setting Norwegian jazz musicians today. Today marks the release of his new album Water Fabric on Odin Records, which shows completely new sides of Espen as a composer. He has put together a hand-picked ensemble consisting of six high-profile Norwegian musicians with a background in jazz, classical, Norwegian folk music and Indian classical music. This composition reflects Espen's ability to make any musical expression his own, and with Water Fabric he has created a melodious, boundary-breaking, and breathtaking work that both oozes with the joy of playing and also shows a deep respect for musical traditions and craftsmanship.
Espen Berg, piano and compositions
Harpreet Bansal, violin
Hayden Powell, trumpet and flügelhorn
Ellie Mäkelä, viola
Per Oddvar Johansen, drums
Joakim Munkner, cello
Water Fabric was originally commissioned by Jazzfest Trondheim in 2020, in collaboration with Maijazz Stavanger and Oslo Jazzfestival, and was premiered to standing ovations at these three festivals in 2022. The title itself embraces broadly, as an analogy to water in all possible states, textures and shades, and it is borrowed from a piece that Espen wrote back in 2005 and later arranged for string quartet. With Water Fabric he revisits the chamber music format, but this time with maturity and countless experiences richer.
In 2017 Espen wrote the commissioned work MAETRIX for the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra - a monstrous work dominated by complex rhythms, but at the same time melodious and inviting. This work laid much of the foundation for the musical development of the Espen Berg Trio and also helped in shaping the music in Water Fabric. In addition, Espen has brought valuable knowledge from his solo project into Water Fabric, which is based exclusively on free improvisation. Several of the compositions in Water Fabric have their roots in spontaneously composed material, which fosters presence, spontaneity and atmosphere, but at the same time is imperfect and unpolished by nature.
Water Fabric was recorded in Rainbow Studio in Oslo in January 2023, and is supported by the Arts Council Norway through Fond for lyd og bilde, and Fond for Utøvende Kunstnere.
Espen Berg is touring Europe and Asia regularly with Espen Berg Trio, as a solo pianist, with Hildegunn Øiseth Quartet, A Tonic For The Troops, and in a duo with Silje Nergaard. In 2022 he released The Trondheim Concert, which was declared one of the most beautiful improvised solo piano concerts of the last decade by UK Vibe, and appointed a natural and worthy successor to Keith Jarrett’s legendary solo concerts by Jazzwise. With his trio he has sold out concert halls in Tokyo, Kyoto, Guangzhou and Athens, and was listed with one of the best releases of 2019 in Downbeat. Espen received Norway’s largest jazz scholarship in 2016, JazZtipendiatet, and he is an official Steinway Artist.
Keywords
Contacts
Jade Marie Hasselgård
Tel:95221196jade@grappa.noImages
Links
About Grappa Musikkforlag
Grappa Musikkforlag was established in 1983, and is the oldest and largest independent record company in Norway. Home of many prestigious labels including Hubro, Simax Classics, Odin, Blue Mood, Heilo, Barneselskapet and Grappa label. Close collaborations with other strong indies, including Rune Grammofon and Drabant. A wide variety of genres includes jazz, folk, classical, contemporary, pop, rock, blues, singer/songwriter – all from Norwegian artists of the highest quality.
Alternative languages
Subscribe to releases from Grappa Musikkforlag AS
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Grappa Musikkforlag AS by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Grappa Musikkforlag AS
Jan Eggum briljerer som observatør - nå er han ute med sitt 25. studioalbum!4.10.2024 09:00:00 CEST | Pressemelding
På albumet "Observatør" retter Eggum et presist og skarpt blikk på omgivelsene. Bergenstrubaduren beviser nok en gang hvorfor han regnes som en av Norges dyktigste låtskrivere.
Elektronisk dansemusikk på nynorsk - Fyrste singel av Rotevatn remixed kjem i dag!27.9.2024 09:15:00 CEST | Pressemelding
No har space disco-ringreven Prins Thomas, som saman med DJ-en Isoebel dannar duoen Double Trouble, laga ein herleg remix av Andreas Rotevatn låta “Berre kom heim”.
Electronic dance music in norwegian - Rotevatn's first remixed single is out today!27.9.2024 09:15:00 CEST | Press release
Now, space disco veteran Prins Thomas, who, together with DJ Isoebel, forms the duo Double Trouble, has created a delightful remix of Andreas Rotevatn's track “Berre kom heim.”
Erlend Viken Trio går nye "Ville Veier" med nytt album - singelen "Byrsevegen" er ute i dag!27.9.2024 09:00:00 CEST | Pressemelding
Erlend Viken Trio har lenge utforsket sjangergrensene i folkemusikken. På det nye albumet "Ville Veier" som kommer 25.oktober, tar de det videre på nye veier inn i spennende lydlandskap, inspirert av blant annet ørkenblues og rock.
Erlend Viken Trio explores new roads on their new album. The first single, 'Byrsevegen' (Byrse Road), is out today.27.9.2024 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
Today the first single from Erlend Viken Trio’s new album "Ville Veier" (Wild Roads) is released. Byrsevegen is a newly composed track by Erlend Viken and showcases the trio´s distinctive sound, much like the rest of the upcoming album. Erlend Viken Trio, consisting of Erlend Viken (Hardanger fiddle), Sondre Meisfjord (double bass), and Marius Graff (electric guitar), has performed concerts throughout much of Europe and has gained many fans across several genres with their energetic live performances.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom