Nils Petter Molvaer: Be Quiet

For over three decades, Norwegian trumpeter and composer Nils Petter Molvaer has stood as one of the most influential figures in European jazz. On Be Quiet, he continues to push the boundaries of his already remarkable body of work, collaborating with a different artist in a different location on each of the nine tracks

Molvær is no stranger to bold concepts. Since first attracting attention through his work with Arild Andersen in Masqualero, his brand of Nordic restraint has carried him across musical boundaries, gaining acclaim in electronica, club music and jazz improvisation. His landmark album Khmer (ECM Music, 1997) set his distinctive trumpet alongside beats and electronic walls of sound to open up the way for genre-fluid instrumental music to evolve.

Drawing together such a varied mix of artists, cities and recording studios was always going to present a challenge. Fortunately, Norwegian musician and producer Jan Bang brings his sound design skills to bear alongside Molvær's on seven of the tracks, creating a series of intimate soundscapes with great spatial depth. On "London-Hackney," Bang adds his own samples and keyboards to Imogen Heap's voice and electronics as Molvær's trumpet phrases drift slowly through the piece, dissolving into gentle waves of brooding electronics. Everything is hushed, nothing is hurried, yet a distinct sense of movement is always present.

Molvær is joined by renowned guzheng virtuoso Chang Jing on "Bangkok." The track seems to float effortlessly, as the bending pitch of the Chinese plucked zither combines beautifully with Molvær's almost whispered trumpet, prompting a restful atmosphere. In slight contrast, "London-Finsbury Park" is probably the album's most conventional piece, as John Paul Jones' piano and Molvaer's trumpet unite, separate and rejoin as the composition unfolds.

Molvær also finds a perfect musical partner in Soheil Shayesteh's kamancheh on "Amsterdam." The combination of the trumpet and the bowed Iranian string instrument evokes an ancient, mysterious quality even when mixed with Shayesteh's electronically textured soundscapes. On "Berlin—Orbit 4," Molvær builds a series of striking, effects-laden phrases alongside Alva Noto, one of contemporary electronic music's most influential figures, whose pulsing electronic mix creates an intriguing sonic environment.

Further standout contributions come from cellist Anja Lechner and percussionist Marilyn Mazur, as Molvær succeeds in shaping an album that brings its disparate parts into a cohesive musical landscape in which sound design and instrumental skill carry equal weight. Minimalist, intimate and at times achingly beautiful, Molvær's sonic invention blends digitally altered sounds to the point where they sound organic. Those wishing to explore further may be interested in the documentary film directed by Norwegian filmmaker Per Manning, which captures the process, environments, and relationships behind the music.