Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Emil Brandqvist Trio: Layers of Life
Emil Brandqvist Trio: Layers of Life
BySince the release of their debut album, Breathe Out (Skip Records, 2013), the trio have been generating ever-greater popularity, winning awards in Germany and listing both in the top ten of the German jazz charts and the European iTunes charts. There are 13 tracks here, all Brandqvist compositions, with the exception of Solitude, which is co-written by Turunen. The album runs to 71 minutes, making this a double album for vinyl lovers.
All the musicians are skilled in restraint and understatement, keeping a distance until required. No one dominates, although Turunen naturally carries the majority of the melodic lead. Opening track, "Still Awake," is the ideal introduction to their meditative melodies, delicate piano over quiet rhythms that imperceptibly increase in pace as the strings join to add texture. The guest musicians being used to embellish the established melody around the middle of the track, is a template that is frequently employed throughout this album, it is most effective.
"Solitude" is one of the album's many highlights. Brandqvist is at his creative best on percussion as the keyboards build in atmosphere, depth and intensity. Many of the tracks, such as the title track, are in waltz-time. Here a piano theme builds before being augmented by voice. This is one of many tracks that suits visuals, whether on screen or in the mind. Another example is "Follow the Bee." The track has a neat melodic piano hook from Turunen, ably supported by Brandqvist's drums, the string quartet and Martin Brandqvist on bass clarinet and flute.
Elsewhere, "In This Moment," "Blue Hour" and "Lullaby In Green" feature just the trio members and Thornberg takes a rare turn in the spotlight with the bass break in "Everflowing." Beginning with a piano melody, "In Between" drives forward into an ensemble piece with swirling strings.
This atmospheric album draws inspiration from the classical and folk worlds. Some of the tracks have catchy pop hooks, making the melodies memorable and multi-layered. The guest musicians serve to broaden the texture and never take the focus away from the trio's work. Meditative, intricately layered and sometimes epic, this is an album of beautiful imagery.
Track Listing
Still Awake; Everflowing; Lullaby In Green; In Between; A Year; Solitude; Above The Stars; In This Moment; Layers Of Life; Follow The Bumblebee; Daydreaming In Blue; Passage Through Time; Blue Hour.
Personnel
Additional Instrumentation
Martin Brandqvist - flute, clarinet and bass clarinet. Sjöströmska String Quartet - strings. Maija Kauhanen - kantele, voice and harmonium.
Album information
Title: Layers of Life | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Skip Records GmbH
< Previous
Samara Joy At Healdsburg Jazz Festiva...
Next >
Live at the Armoury