Northwest Jan Gunnar Hoff, Jasper Somsen, Carsten Lindholm

• 1 Autumn Breeze 04:53
• 2 Beneath the Surface (For Enrico) 05:51
• 3 First Light 06:59
• 4 One Last Chance 06:09
• 5 So Long 07:28
• 6 Free Flight I 03:40
• 7 Free Flight II 03:26
• 8 Coming Home 06:37
• Total Runtime 45:03

Info zu Northwest

When three seasoned and versatile musicians, who between them have performed with the “Who‘s Who” of jazz, decide to form a new trio, there are usually many reasons, but one is undoubtedly the pleasure of creating new music together. Another reason is communication as human beings and as musicians, challenging each other to open new doors and explore new avenues for their musical expressions, as well as sharing ideas, thus increasing their mutual improvisational power and transmitting their positive philosophy of life to the listener via deep and uplifting music. Norwegian pianist/composer Jan Gunnar Hoff, Dutch bass player/composer Jasper Somsen and Danish drummer/composer Carsten Lindholm made this step in 2023 and brought their individual voices together for some concerts that year.

Quickly it turned out that this was more than just three musicians performing together; the trio very quickly became an ensemble playing jazz with a bit of US jazz tradition mixed with a European classical sensibility; immediately their individual sounds became one voice. Even so, this is basically a piano trio rather than a piano-led trio, as all three musicians have equal voices in the musical process and contribute to the same degree with improvisations and compositions. This equality also shows when one of the musicians steps into the spotlight with a solo, as then the other two don’t lay off but carefully fill spaces, embellishing the solo with tasteful added colours and emotions. It is all about communication – the art of listening and reacting and so forcing each other deeper into the essence of the tune being performed.

For their debut recording, Hoff Somsen Lindholm wrote new compositions especially for this trio, then played them live at a few concerts before recording them. The music is based on an understanding of each other and, in the improvisational sections, shows an almost magical anticipation of what the other musicians are going to do next, so that even the freely improvised tunes sound coherent and together and melodic in a different, open way. The album starts with ‘Autumn Breeze’, a beautiful composition by Hoff, which is laid-back and soft, with a gorgeous little melody. This is followed by the sparkling ‘Beneath The Surface’ by Somsen, written as a tribute to pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, with the composer displaying his wonderful abilities on his instrument, supported by Hoff and Lindholm to enhance the solo. Lindholm’s delicate but groovy ‘First Light’ is another melodic gem with a captivating buildup. This is followed by another of Hoff’s compositions, ‘One Last Chance’, which showcases musical story-telling at its best and has an almost classical feel to it. ‘So Long’ by Somsen follows this lyrical beauty and is a touching ballad, expressing the sadness of farewell, but with an undertone of positivity looking forward. ‘Free Flight I’ and Free Flight II’ are two short and intense trio improvisations, captivating when following the communication between the artists. Despite the open improvisations, they still offer beautiful and melodic content at its core. The album ends with a groovy little piece called ‘Coming Home’, credited to all three musicians, conceived as a tribute to the group Yellowjackets and loosely based on their famous song ‘Homecoming’.

This new jazz trio is a welcome addition to an already rich European jazz scene and will soon find followers around the globe. After hearing their debut album, I can already say that I am a fan!

"All three musicians are equal in the musical process and contribute in the same measures with improvisations and compositions. It is all about communication – the art of listening and reacting and so forcing each other deeper into the essence of the performed tune. This new jazz trio is a welcome addition to an already rich European jazz scene and will soon find followers around the globe. After hearing their debut album, I can already say: I am a fan!" (Wulf Müller, former Vicepresident Universal Music Group, Classics and Jazz)

"Hoff Somsen Lindholm demonstrated the excellence of their technical and compositional qualities. The piano oscillated between water and fire, the double bass thunder and purrs and the drums balanced everything with rhythm and sounds that were sometimes fragmentary or lascivious." (Jazz Equinoxe, Corsica, FR)

Jan Gunnar Hoff, piano
Jasper Somsen, double bass
Carsten Lindholm, drums

Jan Gunnar Hoff
was born in Bodø in 1958 and began classical piano lessons at age ten. He studied in the jazz programme at Trondheim Conservatory of Music and later was a student of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Since 1979 he has been a freelance musician, performing with international musical celebrities such as Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria João and Marilyn Mazur. In 2014 he received the prestigious Buddy Prize, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz, and the same year he was appointed an official Steinway & Sons Artist. He has performed in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zagreb, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow, Havana, Lima and Istanbul and has toured in Scandinavia, Japan and Eastern Europe. Hoff has released a number of critically acclaimed solo albums and has written over 250 works, among them, a commissioned work for the Vossa Jazz Festival and the choral composition Meditatus (2004), which received the Edvard Prize awarded by the Norwegian copyright organization TONO. He was arranger and artistic director for the Grammy-nominated album Quiet Winter Night (2L/Universal 2012). Among recent releases are Barxeta (Losen Records) with Acuña/Hoff/Mathisen, two solo piano albums on the 2L label, as well as Fly North (Losen), which was nominated in 2014 for Spellemannprisen, Norway’s Grammy. Jan Gunnar Hoff is professor at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and the University of Agder.

Jasper Somsen
Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions.

Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.

Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be heard on more than 45 albums, video and film music scores. Outside a busy playing and studio producing schedule he is an educator at the ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem (NL) and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.

Carsten Lindholm
is a Danish drummer, composer and producer born in the small town of Kerteminde on the island Fünen.

He moved to Copenhagen in 1990 and began studying at the music concervatory D.A.R.K. He later took private lessons with Jazzlegend Ed Thigpen, Aage Tanggaard at the Rhythmic Conservatory, professor at the Royal Classic Conservatory Bent Lylloff, New Orleans drummer Jeff Boudreaux and a lot of other danish fusion drummers.

In 1990 he contacted drummer Peter Erskine in order to take private lessons. However, at that time it was difficult for them to match schedules, so he actually never got to study with him. But Carsten got a supportive motivating mentor and penpal instead, who he has met during concerts and studio work in New York, Monterey and Copenhagen.

In 1996 Carsten went to Vallekilde, a Danish Jazz summercamp, where he met finish drummer Jukkis Uotila, Swedish bassplayer Lars Danielsson and Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer – strong personalites, who became great mentors and inspired him to change his musical direction and go into Nordic Jazz music.

In 1998 he went to New York for 3 months to check out the musical level of the town and to study the South Indian rhythm-language Konnakol. Carsten also travelled to meet Jazz-vibist and founder of Steps Ahead, Mike Mainieri, who had been his hero since he first heard Steps Ahead. Mainieri had made a huge impact on Carsten with his melodic, sophisticated and dynamic expression of music. Not unexpected, he also was a great personality.

Back in Denmark Carsten started playing at different Jazz clubs, receptions and weddings in Copenhagen. Here he met a lot of great musicians like Luther Thomas and Jens Melgaard who, among other things, taught him to be enthusiastic for the music and give himself 100 % no matter on stage or in the practice-room. The sudden death of Jens Melgaard drove Carsten to write music and so he started the Tribute project.

In 2011 the “Tribute” album was released, based on a tribute to people (living or dead) who had made a deep impact on Carstens life. The filmic music is a mixture of: Jazz, Drum`n`bass, ambient soundscapes and Indian tabla beats based on a simple Nordic melody. His music mentors and influences for this album counts: Sting, Erik Truffaz, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jan Garbarek, Jon Hassell, Eivind Aarset, Bugge Wesseltoft, John Coltrane, Bill Laswell and Jojo Mayer.

In December 2016 Carsten released “EP Ballads” on Itunes & Amazon, which is a compilation of different recordings with his Norwegian and Danish friends, focusing on the trompet.

In October 2017 he released his 3rd album “Indispiration” on the German label JazzNArts Records.

The music is best described as minimalistic Nordic Jazz mixed with Indian rhythmic compostions. It features 15 of his favourite musicians from 6 different countries as: Erik Truffaz (CH) John Beasley (US), Reggie Washington (US/BE) and Pete Judge/Jim Barr (UK). The compositions are influenced by Esbjorn Svennson, Brad Mehldau, Steps Ahead, Jan Garbarek, Manu Katche, Bugge Wesseltoft, Trilok Gurtu, Arve Henriksen, Erik Truffaz a.o.

With the album “Indispiration” Carsten Lindholm wants to set focus on the importance of inner peace, which he finds is needed more than ever in the world today – as well as the importance of a cultural open mind between countries.

In 2017 Carsten also started the project Carsten Lindholm Trio that currently consists of Pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff (NO), Bass player Reggie Washington (US/BE) and Carsten Lindholm himself on drums.

Members of the band varies according to where the focus is, but in common is a collection of dedicated, dynamic, professional musicians, with a strong expression – and a mutual interest in jazz music. This carried by especially inspirers as Esbjorn Svensson, Brad Mehldau, Jan Garbarek, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner and Erik Truffaz.

The trio is known for their unique ability to fuse Nordic Jazz with Indian rhythmics, based on Carsten Lindholms study of Konnakol. All played with a soulful bass, dynamic drums, a heartfelt strong expressive piano – and of course, with focus on the audience.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet