Two of the most striking lyrical ‘voices’ on the blooming Norwegian jazz scene and ECM Recording artists get together to play J. S. Bach . Trygve and Tord develop unique musical spaces of glowing stillness, lyrical beauty, and far-reaching expressivity while taking chorals written by – or attributed to – Bach as their point of departure.

The concert uses pieces like “Jesu, meine Freude”, “Auf meinen lieben Gott” and “Befiel du deine Wege”, and treats them with equal amounts of respect and freedom.

The timeless melodies are used as mantras, and as starting points for improvisation, showing the wide range of stylistic inspirations lying behind Trygve’s and Tord’s individual styles as jazz musicians – Impressionism, Persian modes, Egyptian playing traditions, Norwegian folk dances, gospel – as well as ‘pure’ Bach playing. It all integrates in a very special musical amalgam which turns out to be doing something totally different from just ‘showing’ different stylistic influences – the interplay is about making the chorals ‘sing’ with a distinct voice here and now; and about going deeply into the texts of the chorals, although doing so with instrumental music.   The Programme will also include compositions by both artists, and perhaps some arrangements of Irish traditional tunes and compositions.

Tord Gustavsen (piano) 

Pianist Tord Gustavsen has released ten critically acclaimed albums on ECM Records with his trio and extended ensemble. Before starting his solo career, Tord had already been an important part of the Norwegian jazz scene for several years. His playing has formed a cornerstone in projects featuring important vocal artists like Kim Rysstad, Solveig Slettahjell, Kristin Asbjørnsen, Mahsa Vahdat, Simin Tander; as well as trumpeters Arve Henriksen, Nils Petter Molvær; saxophonist Tore Brunborg; violinist Nils Økland; the choirs Oslo Domkor, Det norske jentekor; and several others.

The urge for individuality fuses with acutely attentive listening in creative interplay, making Tord a very special experience both as a soloist and as an ensemble player. His way of  conversing jazz history with ‘Nordic’ reflective moods and lyrical beauty brings about an intriguing voice on today’s music scene.

Tord Gustavsen tours world-wide with his ensemble in various formats, playing at major festivals and concert halls in Australia, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Japan, Korea, and the Scandinavian countries. He has received numerous awards including the Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannsprisen), CHOC critical awards (France), Bell Award for Best international Jazz Album (Australia), Recording of the Month in Stereophile Magazine(USA), Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German), as well as NOPAs Musikkpris for Best Norwegian Jazz Composition in 2010. He has had commissioned works for Vossajazz, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Oslo Jazz Festival, Oslo International Church Music Festival, and Nidaros Domkor.

Trygve Seim (tenor and soprano saxophones)

Trygve was born in Oslo, Norway, 25 April 1971. He was educated as a jazz musician with saxophone as main instrument, at the jazz conservatory in Trondheim. He studied saxophone with John Pål Inderberg, Bob Rockwell, Rune Nicolaysen and Tore Engstrøm, and composition with Terje Bjørklund, Bertil Palmar Johansen, Edward Vesala and Bjørn Kruse. Since 1992 he has worked full time as a musician, composer and arranger.

Trygve Seim has released twenty-two CDs on the prestigious German record label ECM Records, and as a composer and band-leader or co-band-leader on eight of them . His debut album Different Rivers won the German records critics prize in 2001 Jahrespreis – Presi der Deuchten Schallplattenkritik.

Trygve has made concert tours all over the world with his own ensembles and with The Source, as well as as a sideman in many other artists’ groups: Manu Katché, Jacob Young, Sinikka Langeland, Iro Haarla, Fathy Salama, Jai Shankar a.o.

Supported by The River Lee, a Doyle Collection hotel