- country:Norway
- style(s):Jazz, Contemporary
- label:Ozella Music
- type:Trio
- instrumentation:instrumental
- artist posted by:Jazzhaus Artists
Line up
- Helge Lien (Grand Piano)
- Johannes Eick (Double Bass)
- Knut Aalefjær (Drums)
Links
The Norwegian pianist Helge Lien has created his own unique style with his trio - hardly any other piano trio is able to maintain the balance between classical jazz traditions and the seemingly avant-garde art of improvisation. With instinctive sovereignty, he and his musicians have developed their own interpretation of chamber jazz, which is characterized by harmonically complex, even dreamlike timbres. Building on Bill Evans' lyrical power and the intoxicating melancholy play of Esbjörn Svensson, Helge Lien creates a variety of atmospheric images, which he presents with a light hand in constant dialogue with Johannes Eick (bass) & Knut Aalefjær (drums) and which are both in recordings and also fully ignited in the live settings. Since the breakthrough with “Hello Troll” in 2008, Helge Lien has concentrated on his own compositions, leaving plenty of room for the unmistakable character of his band members - the ingenuity of this trio seems to know no bounds to this day. Helge Lien, who in addition to his own trio project is also on the road with other artists such as Silje Nergaard or Adam Bałdych, celebrated the 20th anniversary of his trio in 2019 - marked by the release of the double album "10", which at the same time was his tenth trio album. And now it goes on: In spring 2022 the release of a new, now 11th album is due (Ozella Music). The Helge Lien Trio already received the Norwegian Grammy Award (Spellemannprisen) for the album Hello Troll (2008) and was nominated in 2002 for the album Spiral Circle, 2011 with Natsukashii and 2017 with Guzuguzu. They have played numerous concerts in Japan, Korea, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Luxembourg, Romania, Poland, Sweden and Denmark as well as in Norway - and now (after the inevitable time of Corona) they are on tour again and are excited to cross borders again. Photo © CF Wesenberg
“(...) a life-affirming rhythmic energy that confirms that Helge Lien’s trio is here to stay and among the most exquisite proponents of the noble art of the piano trio.“ - All About Jazz