Badgers And Other Beings Helge Lien Trio

• 1Mor03:41
• 2Joe04:45
• 3Hoggormen06:00
• 4Hvalen04:24
• 5Folkmost05:15
• 6Early Bird05:52
• 7Knut03:57
• 8Calypso In Five04:56
• 9The New Black07:07
• 10Badger's Lullaby07:13
• Total Runtime53:10

Info for Badgers And Other Beings

This album is a rare moment to cherish and enjoy every second of. Awarded Norwegian pianist Helge Lien and his band developed their very own, distinctively nordic, jazz trio sound, brought to perfection on their latest, highly acclaimed release “Natsukashii”. The ten new compositions are exploring new ways for the reflexive and experimental, as well as the playful, groove orientated side of the trio’s music. After 13 years, Per Oddar Johansen takes over from Knut Aalefjær on drums, bringing new ideas and power to the band. It’s the world class songwriting and musicianship, as well as the stand-out production that make “Badgers and other Beings” an unmissable experience for both jazz fans and audiophiles.

Helge Lien, piano
Frode Berg, bass
Per Oddvar Johansen, drums

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Jan Erik Kongshaug at Rainbow Studios, Oslo, Norway
Produced by Helge Lien & Dagobert Böhm

A little nation with a big jazz tradition is the land of fjords and trolls. Fascinating new artists and acts sporting a huge zest for playing and an irrepressible urge for experimentation keep pushing out of Norway to conquer the rest of the jazz world. The Helge Lien Trio, who have already won a large circle of fans in Scandinavia and Japan with their five albums and inspiring live concerts, are especially significant. They maintain the balance between jazz traditions and the avantgardist art of improvisation like hardly any other classic piano trio, par excellence.

Helge Lien, who besides his own trio project performs with other Norwegian acts like Silje Nergaard, has developed his very own unmistakeable style of trio playing with band colleagues Frode Berg (bass) and Knut Aalefjær (drums & percussion). With instinctive sureness, the musicians develop a „chamber music“ jazz that stands out through its harmonically complex tone colors. Building on Bill Evans’ lyrical power and the exhilaratingly melancholic playing of Esbjörn Svensson, Lien, in constant dialogue with Berg & Aalefjær, creates distinct moods on 'Hello Troll' – moods that he presents with ease.

Doubtlessly pianist Helge Lien, who is very skilled at playing to the gallery with his modal piano art, is one of the most exciting young talents in Scandinavia. After the honorable Dagbladet from Norway already described the forerunner CD 'To The Little Radio' as „the best Norwegian Piano Trio Album in a long time', we can be looking out for a similar reaction to their new longplayer. Playing their way into the hearts of a steadily growing circle of listeners with classic-impressionistic patterns and rhythmical-melodic jazz, this trio’s resourcefulness seems to truly know no bounds.

Booklet for Badgers And Other Beings