The album's final track is the only pre-composed piece—a melodic, gospel-tinged ballad that provides a grounding, hymn-like conclusion to the preceding improvisations. A Multigenerational Dialogue
Originally, bassist Arild Andersen entered the studio with his quartet—featuring (tenor saxophone), Helge Lien (piano), and Håkon Mjåset Johansen (drums)—intending to record a set of predetermined compositions. However, on the second day of the session, Andersen suggested they pivot toward collective improvisation. Arild Andersen Group - Affirmation (2022) [24Bi...
A shorter, more "tempestuous" sequence where the group's interplay becomes more forceful, at times recalling the energy of 1970s free-jazz roots. The album's final track is the only pre-composed
Arild Andersen Group - Affirmation — JazzTrail | Album Reviews A shorter, more "tempestuous" sequence where the group's
Arild Andersen Group's 2022 release, , stands as a testament to the enduring vitality of the "ECM sound"—a blend of crystalline production, spacious improvisation, and deep melodicism. Recorded at Oslo's Rainbow Studio during the pandemic, the album captures a veteran master collaborating with three rising stars of Norwegian jazz to create something entirely spontaneous. The Genesis of a Spontaneous Suite
A 23-minute exploration that begins with delicate, nocturnal atmosphere. It features "icy ripples" from Lien’s piano and searching, lyrical saxophone lines from Neset.
The resulting album is structured as an unedited seven-part suite, divided into two long arcs: