Cargo Records

You Had Me At Goodbye

Espen Eriksen is a debutant on Rune Grammofon and as a recording artist in his own name. His musical background is varied, ranging from pop music to jazz and the church organ. He has played with top Norwegian jazz musicians like Bendik Hofseth, Mats Eilertsen and Thomas Strønen and was for three years pianist, arranger and composer for singer Christina Bjordal leading up to her international debut, ”Brighter Days”, for Universal Music in 2008. Bassist Lars Tormod Jenset lived and worked as a musician in Copenhagen for seven years before relocating to Norway in 2007. He is also a member of Hot N Spicy (DK/NO), Bendik Giske Kvintett (NO) and Rodent (ISL). Andreas Bye is one of Norway´s most requested drummers in jazz and pop. He was a member of Bugge Wesseltofts New Conception Of Jazz and has played with John Scofield, Joshua Redman, John Taylor, Dhafer Yousef, Nils Petter Molvær, Håkon Kornstad and many others.

The music of Espen Eriksen is lyrical and highly melodical and in some ways typically Scandinavian with it´s folk elements, shades of the deep woods and touches of melancholia. In that respect it´s fair to say that he belongs to the same tradition as Tord Gustavsen and the late Esbjörn Svensson, but without really sounding like any of them. But it´s also fair to say that the trio´s less is more approach is in stark contrast to many of their contemporary piano trios, with structures almost like pop songs and focus on the melodic content and short solos.

The jazz world is not short on piano trios, but it´s not every day that one comes across a new trio with a personal musical language. This debut release from the Norwegian trio contains highly melodical and lyrical instrumentals with elements from Scandinavian folk and melancholia and shades of the deep woods. It´s definitely jazz, but their less is more approach is in contrast to most of their contemporaries, with structures almost like pop songs and with a strong focus on melodies and short solos. It´s fair to place them in a tradition with Tord Gustavsen Trio and the late Esbjörn Svensson Trio, but without really sounding like any of them. A most welcome addition to our catalogue.