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Helge Lien Trio: Natsukashii
by John Kelman
So, what do you do when you've won, amongst other accolades, the 2008 DnBNor Musicians Award and a Norwegian Grammy Award for Best Jazz Album of 2009? Well, if you're Helge Lien and the album is Hello Troll (Ozella, 2008), you just keep on keepin' on--in this fine pianist's case, continuing to hone the trio that's been his primary focus since What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life (Curling Legs, 2001). With the unfortunate dissolution of e.s.t., following ...
Continue ReadingHelge Lien Trio: Hello Troll
by John Kelman
It's nearly impossible to keep up with the Norwegian jazz scene. Considering the country's population is about one-quarter the size of New York City's Greater Metropolitan Area, the vibrancy, diversity and sheer amount of music coming out of this small country is astounding. Pianist Helge Lien and his trio may be unknown to most North Americans, but they've already got five albums to their name and have racked up achievements, including a 2002 Norwegian Grammy nomination. Hello Troll ...
Continue ReadingHelge Lien Trio: Asymmetrics
by Matthew Wuethrich
The ominous cover art and brooding band photo on the cover of the Norwegian Helge Lien trio’s second DIW release, Asymmetrics, promises a stormy affair, but true to the title, the nine tracks surprise and deliver instead a restrained, at times even gentle mood without, however, sacrificing intensity.
Pianist Lien, bassist Frode Berg and drummer Knut Aalefjaer craft a set of five Lien originals and four standards that surges from dark riffing (Lien’s “Mann Av Huse ... Continue Reading
