Silent Fires is a quartet which brings together Italian pianist and composer Alessandro Sgobbio with three renowned Norwegians, violinist Håkon Aase, vocalist Karoline Wallace and trumpeter Hilde Marie Holsen—whose one-woman album Lazuli (Hubro, 2018) was very well received. As the YouTube clip below shows, in concert the four are often joined onstage by contemporary dancer and real-time choreographer Synne Garvik. While the four musicians are all experienced improvisers, their debut album Forests is not freely improvised but consists of eleven compositions by Sgobbio, with lyrics from diverse sources including Sgobbio himself, Maya Angelou, W. B. Yeats, René Guénon, and religious texts including Psalms, and the Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians. Apparently, the lyrics investigate the theme of "spirituality," although that is not always immediately obvious, considering the range of meanings attached to the word. Given the range of sources and literary styles, it is certainly not easy to identify a unifying theme running through the lyrics. (Maybe the album would have benefitted from the lyrics being printed on its sleeve?) The songs are all sung or, sometimes, recited by Wallace, in a very appealing, crystal-clear voice which is perfectly suited to conveying a wide range of emotions. The accompaniment from piano, violin, trumpet and subtle percussion is never overstated or attention-grabbing, instead remaining supportive and complementary to the voice. Throughout, Aase's violin is a highlight, which fits in perfectly with the voice and mood, most notably on the track which sits at the heart of the album and shares its name with the band itself. Forests is one of those albums which is not instantly appealing but gradually reveals its strengths with repeated listening, ultimately being quite compelling and addictive. As a debut album, it is first rate and full of promise for the future. On this evidence, Silent Fires' second album will be well worth checking out.
Track Listing
En Astheneía; From The Entrance Of Love; Similar Lymphs; Luce Della Perfezione; Love; Silent Fires;
Qâf; Prajnà; The Light Of The Lights; Banyak; Alla Volta Del Sole.
All About Jazz & Jazz Near You were built to promote jazz music: both recorded albums and live events. We rely primarily on venues, festivals and musicians to promote their events through our platform. With club closures, limited reopenings and an uncertain future, we've pivoted our platform to collect, promote and broadcast livestream concerts to support our jazz musician friends. This is a significant but neccesary step that will help musicians and venues now, and in the future. You can help offset the cost of this essential undertaking by making a donation today. In return, we'll deliver an ad-free experience (which includes hiding the sticky footer ad). Thank you!
Get more of a good thing
Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories and includes your local jazz events calendar.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.
