Gressholmen Maridalen

• 1Prolog01:43
• 2Innrønt04:12
• 3Fuglefangeren04:51
• 4Smeigedag04:31
• 5Landkjenning03:35
• 6Folket på berget03:22
• 7I nattens mulm og mørke03:34
• 8Mysig05:30
• 9Fattern, bruttern og jeg02:35
• 10På havets bunn03:32
• 11Lorraine03:50
• 12Dornier Jo D04:36
• 13Lenger borte02:59
• Total Runtime48:50

Info for Gressholmen

For their third album, Maridalen changed their recording space from the wooden church in the scenic valley of Maridalen, just north of Oslo, and from which they take their name, to the island of Gressholmen, 10 minutes from the Oslo harbor. "Gressholmen" the album once again exploits, enriches, and enlarges their unique trio sound, derived from three monophonic instruments - double bass, saxophone and trumpet - creating music possessed of clarity and intimacy, a unique minimalism that never feels sparse or threadbare or overstretched. With the addition of percussion, voice, some skilful musical sleight of hand, and the occasional addition of pedal steel guitar from Emil Brattested they can produce luscious soundscapes like "Smeigedag", or whimsical upbeat chamber pieces like "Fuglefangeren" and "Folket på berget" which sees the instrumentation shift to bass and flutes. The music frequently possesses a nostalgic mood, as on the singles "Landkjenning" and "På havets bunn", but it is never melancholy. The music throughout, whatever the mood, is always evocative, telling stories like soundtracks in miniature (yet never feeling small). Strong eloquent melodies, poignant and expressive, are a key element of Maridalen's compositions, providing a strong foundation for their measured and resonant musicianship. "Gressholmen" consolidates their output to date and demonstrates that it is infinitely more than their novel approach that makes Maridalen one of the most acclaimed groups in recent years: it is their superb artistry as both composers and musicians that provides the magical ingredient that makes their music so compelling.

Anders Hefre, saxophones, clarinet
Jonas Kilmork Vemøy, trumpet
Andreas Rødland Haga, double bass

Maridalen
The trio's debut album «Maridalen» (2021) has received rave reviews both nationally and internationally. The album, among many other plaudits, was listed on the lists "Best Norwegian albums of the Year" in Aftenposten, and "Jazz albums of the Year" in British MOJO Magazine.

What initially started as an opportunity to practice together gradually evolved into the Maridalen project. The three members found their tone in the warm harmony of double bass, trumpet and woodwind, completely without chordal instruments. In addition, they also discovered a common predilection for Swedish jazz, minimalist film music and French Impressionism. From there, the trio has developed their own musical space that both captures different mood moments and creates small stories.

Their second album «Bortenfor» (2022) on Jazzland Recordings was named "Album der Woche" on German radio WDR and "The best jazz records in 2022" in Norwegian Dagsavisen. Like its predecessor, this album is also recorded in the old wooden church in Maridalen, but this time the trio also moves a little beyond the valley - down to night-lit streets and old apartment buildings. The trio also rounds out the sound with contributions from piano, an old radio and kitchen utensils, with the addition of pedal steel guitarist Emil Brattested.

With the warm and acoustic sound of double bass, trumpet and woodwind, the trio creates their own musical space that captures different moods and spins small stories.

Through these moments, the listener is invited to new adventures; from a city gateway, old and forgotten places are explored: through pictures from a movie, to a ride on a moon bike in dreamland.

The moods and stories are conveyed through a strong collective where the sum is greater than the individual performances - where the space, atmosphere and excitement become an inextricable part of the whole. The soundscape is intimate, transparent, and provides great opportunity and plenty of space for the three musicians to play.

Maridalen has made a name on the national and international jazz scene with performance highlights at festivals such as Oslo Jazz Festival, Nordic Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, Ora Jazz Festival in Romania, Aberdeen Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival.

On April 5th 2024, they will release their third album «Gressholmen» – this time recorded in a hut on the island Gressholmen in the fjord of Oslo.

This album contains no booklet.