Jazz on 3 - Helge Lien at Pizza Express Jazz Club
Jez Nelson presents a gig by the Helge Lien Trio given as part of the 2009 London Jazz Festival. Fresh from the success of their award-winning album Hello Troll, the Norwegian group formed by pianist Helge Lien, bassist Frode Berg and drummer Knut Aalefjaer bring the forests and fjords of home to their records with their expressive soundscapes. With six albums under their belt, their latest offering is the first to be released outside Norway; a testament to the impact they have made in Europe and beyond. In taking influence from Scandinavian landscapes, they inevitably share some traits with the late Esbjorn Svensson's Trio with a similar atmospheric blend of powerful and peaceful moods and melodies. Helge Lien's musical talents were rewarded in 2009 with a Norwegian Grammy for their music on Hello Troll. Excerpt of Snurt by the Helge Lien Trio (details below) CD Tracks: Artist: Henry Threadgill Zooid (Henry Threadgill - flute, Liberty Ellman - guitar, Jose Davila - trombone and tuba, Stomu Takeishi - bass guitar, Elliot Humberto Kavee - drums) Track: Chairmaster Composer: Henry Threadgill Album Title: This Brings Us To (Volume 1) Label: Pi Recordings Released: 10th November 2009 Artist: Trio VD (Chris Sharkey - electric guitar, Chris Bussey - drums and Christophe De Bezenac - alto saxophone/electronics) Track: Cowdun Composer: Chris Sharkey, Chris Bussey and Christophe De Bezenac Album Title: Fill It Up With Ghosts Label: Babel Released: 7th November 2009 Helge Lien Trio recorded at the Pizza Express Jazz Club on 20th November 2009 during the London Jazz Festival. Line up: Helge Lien (piano) Frode Berg (bass) Knut Aalefjaer (drums) Set 1: Radio Axis Of Free Will Grandfather's Waltz Troozee All compositions are by Helge Lien apart from Grandfather's Waltz composed by Lasse Farnlof. Jez talks to Fiona Talkington from Radio 3's Late Junction about the Norwegian jazz scene. CD Track: Artist: Nils Petter Molvaer (Nils Petter Molvaer - trumpet and electronics, Eivind Aarset - guitar, Audun Erlien - bass, Audun Kleive - drums) Track: Friction Composer: Nils Petter Molvaer Album Title: Hamada Label: Sula Records Released: 5th May 2009 Artist: Hakon Kornstad (tenor and bass saxophones, flutonette, flute, live electronics) Track: Oslo Composer: Hakon Kornstad Album Title: Dwell Time Label: Jazzland Released: 21st September 2009 Artist: Christian Wallumrod Ensemble (Christian Wallumrød - piano, harmonium, toy piano, Eivind Lonning - trumpet, Gjermund Larsen - violin, Hardanger fiddle, viola, Tanja Orning - cello, Giovanna Pessi - baroque harp, Per Oddvar Johansen - drums, percussion, glockenspiel) Track: Solemn Mosquitoes Composer: Christian Wallumrod Album Title: Fabula Suite Lugano Label: ECM Released: 16th October 2009 Helge Lien Trio Set 2: Gamut Warning Halla Troll In The Wind Somewhere The Blind Cow Snurt All compositions are by Helge Lien. Helge Lien Trio's album 'Hello Troll' was released on Ozella on 26th January 2009. For more information about tickets for Jazz On 3's celebration of British jazz at Ronnie Scott's on January 4th please go to www.bbc.co.uk/tickets Follow Jez Nelson and Jazz On 3 on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeznelson http://twitter.com/r3jazzon3.