Arve Henriksen and Harmen Fraanje at Bimhuis

Arve Henriksen and Harmen Fraanje
Bimhuis
Amsterdam, Netherlands
September 28, 2024

At the Bimhuis jazz club in Amsterdam, Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen and Dutch pianist Harmen Fraanje created a captivating, almost otherworldly experience, a meditative performance that felt as much like sound painting as it did a concert. Together they delivered a concert where music, ambiance and the setting created an atmosphere of hushed wonder.

The venue itself added to the spellbinding nature of the performance. Located near Amsterdam Central Station, the Bimhuis' iconic large window behind the stage framed the cityscape like a living painting. As Henriksen and Fraanje played, the view shifted like a slow-motion time-lapse: city lights shimmering on the water, boats gliding down the canals and the soft glow of passing trains, trams, cars and trucks, all creating a quiet urban backdrop. It was as if the scenery was performing its own subtle dance in rhythm with the music.

The music itself was a delicate balance of composed pieces and improvisation, a hallmark of both musicians' styles. The duo's connection was immediate, palpable in every phrase and pause. Henriksen's trumpet was warm and impressionistic, his playing often seeming to float over Fraanje's nuanced and understated piano. At times, Henriksen ventured into otherworldly vocalizations and electronic textures, further blurring the boundaries between voice, instrument and atmosphere.

What stood out most was the telepathic communication between the two musicians. Their interplay felt instinctive, as if they shared an unspoken language. Henriksen would lay down a haunting trumpet melody, only for Fraanje to softly extend it on the piano, expanding on the thought without overwhelming it. There was no rush. Each phrase was allowed to breathe and unfold organically. Moments of silence were as important as the notes themselves, giving the music an intimate, almost meditative quality.

Improvisation was at the heart of the performance, but it was done with such grace and subtlety that it never felt disjointed. Instead, the music flowed with an effortless sense of cohesion, where one player would pick up and finish the other's musical sentences. The quiet ambiance of the Bimhuis—combined with the respectful attentiveness of the audience—allowed every delicate nuance, every pause, and breath, to be heard and felt.

The concert was an exploration of space, both in terms of sound and the physical surroundings. Fraanje's sparse yet expressive piano playing created a sonic canvas upon which Henriksen's trumpet would occasionally soar or retreat into moments of introspection. Each piece seemed to emerge naturally from the stillness, creating a dreamlike sense of timelessness.

By the end of the night, it was clear that this wasn't just a concert, but a shared experience between the performers, the audience and the city itself. In their quiet and unassuming way, the duo managed to capture something profound—music that connected everyone in the room without needing to shout, but simply by existing in the moment.

The entire performance was an exercise in restraint and subtlety, yet it was also richly textured and emotionally powerful. Arve Henriksen and Harmen Fraanje didn't just play music—they painted with sound, creating an atmosphere that was as warm and inviting as it was thought-provoking. It was an evening of quiet magic, where the lines between performer, listener and environment blurred, leaving behind an impression that lingered long after the final note had faded into the night.

As the final notes faded, the lights of Amsterdam continued to flicker outside, and the world moved on, but for those inside the Bimhuis, time had seemed to stand still, if only for a while.

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