Kjetil Mulelid Trio - What You Thought Was Home
Label: rune grammofon
Release: 30.08.2019
Availabiliy: Vinyl, CD, Digital Streaming
Engineer: Dag Erik Johansen
Mix:Jo Ranheim
Master: Karl Klaseie
“The pace, mood control, the lyricism of the tone control and this always present sense of spirituality is almost like a Holy Trinity in the Bible. Perfection you can Feel, even if it goes beyond your imagination or descriptive capabilities”
- G Point Audio (UK)
5/5 Jazz Journal (UK)
5/5 Ivan Rod (DK)
7/8 Plattentests (DE)
7/8 Ether Real (FR)
4,5/5 All About Jazz (US)
8/10 Stemmegaffel (NO)
4/5 Klenkes (DE)
Ranked as nr 4 on Somethin' Else chart, Jazzwise (UK)
Album of week 35 - P8 Jazz (DK)
Still only 28 years old, Kjetil Mulelid comes across as an exceptionally maturep ianist and composer. His trio´s debut from 2017 received wide
international acclaim, with writers most typically mentioning Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans. All About Jazz noted their conversational style and
sometime gospel feel, Textura made a point out of their melodic sense and folk-like character while The Wire noted the grooves, rich harmonies and lyrical melodies and concluded about "just how magical this album is".
"What You Thought Was Home" continues in this tradition, with eight new beguiling Mulelid compositions expertly balancing energetic, often rhythmically complex and harmonically rich music with beautiful and evocative melodies. It´s not all about Mulelid though, bassist Hegge (31) and drummer Winther (28) effortlessly conjure additional layers, tones and textures, incorporating a sense of calm; an unhurried yet constantly unfolding sound world which can be said to be distinctively Scandinavian, most typically heard in Hegge´s sole composition "Bruremarsj (Wedding March)".
Kjetil André Mulelid grew up in the small village of Hurdal, and started playing the piano when he was nine, after hearing Chopin on the stereo. In high school he had the good fortune of studying with some inspiring piano teachers. Later he did a bachelor degree in jazz performance at NTNU in Trondheim, again being blessed with top teachers, such as Erling Aksdal, Vigleik Storaas and Eyolf Dale. He is also a member of jazz quartet Wako.
Bjørn Marius Hegge has been making waves on the Norwegian jazz scene lately, with his quintet´s debut album "Hegge" winning a Norwegian Grammy. He also has his own trio with pianist Oscar Grönberg and young drummer ace Hans Hulbækmo. Earlier this year he released a new album ("Ideas") with Axel Dörner, Rudi Mahall, Håvard Wiik and Hans Hulbækmo.
Andreas Skår Winther is, like the other two, a "product" of the fertile milieu of the jazz department at the Trondheim Conservatory of Music. His discography includes "Left Exit, Mr. K" with Michael Duch & Klaus Holm (Clean Feed) and Megalodon Collective (Jazzland).
“A great album, and further testament to Norway's thriving musical culture”
- International Piano Magazine (UK)
“Mulelid's playing is magical. Subtle, playful and then powerful, he sets out his melody lines. Just listen to how fabulously he lifts Far Away to heavenly heights. Impressive.” - Written in Music (NE)
P R E S S
"Impressing” - Lars Mossefinn, Dag og Tid (NO)
"The performances are perfect in every respect" - Adam Baruch (IL)
"Offering listeners beautiful variations and nice moments" - Etherreal (FR)
"A collection of interesting, and very beautiful tunes" - Audun Vinger, DN (NO)
“Another Norwegian piano trio sounding absolute amazing” - SoulandJazz (UK)
“We're totally digging the direction they're headed towards. Check.” - Nitestylez (DE)
“Some of the most captivating music I’ve heard in quite some while” - Jazz Journal (UK)
"A beautiful discovery: a trio with great melodic charm" - Claude Loxhay, Jazzhalo (BE)
“The feeling of inspired freedom in between a great melodic framework.” - Vårt Land (NO)
“I can tell you that a good feeling, is to listen to this album!" - Geir Rakvaag, Dagsavisen (NO)
“This is music that breathes a pastoral atmosphere (...)played with elegance” - Vital Weekly (NE)
“An album which should find favor with all lovers of contemporary piano jazz” - The Jazz Man (UK)
“Mulelid treats themes and melodies in a new and elegant way" - Arild R. Andersen, Jazz i Norge (NO)
“The interplay of this trio, as well as the touching melodies testify to great mastery” - Plattentests (DE)
“Sound as if they could improvise freely together as easily as playing compositions.” - All About Jazz (INT)
“«What You Thought Was Home» is definitely one of this year's most central releases in Norway” - Lars Junge (NO)
“Kjetil Mulelid Trio is probably one of the most interesting acoustic jazz trios in Norway these days” - Stemmegaffel (NO)
“The Kjetil Mulelid Trio plays lyrical, ballad-oriented jazz, and they’re not afraid to play pretty.” - The Absolute Sound (US)
“Temperament and fullness. There are notes from Norwegian folk music and American jazz - Niels Overgård, Jazznyt (DK)
“Interesting and sometimes not obvious references. Pleasant to the ear, which is not lacking in sophistication.” - Donos (PL)
“They sound like an incredible good constellation. The trio has huge potentials ahead of them in the future!” - Ivan Rod (DK)
“This honed and beautiful music will leave a new spiritual landscape to the inner surface of the audience” - Kiyoshi Kouyama (JP)
“A classical piano trio but has its own ability to balance stoic tranquility and improvisational urge” - Deichmanske musikkblogg (NO)
“While Kjetil Mulelid plays with a maturity beyond his years, his rhythm section adds layers of magical music” - Dereksmusicblog (UK)
“Maybe I'm just easy these days, but this album is so gorgeous and beautiful that it's difficult to critisies it." - Maren Ørstavik, Jazznytt (NO)
“This trio may not found yet a solid, concrete home but in their own special way have created a true musical haven.” - Eyal Hareuveni (IL)
"Overall feeling of music delivering the equivalent of a warm embrace make this an eminently worthy follow-up to their first release." - Mr. Stu (US)
"Mulelid writes inspired piano music for a classic jazz trio -free improvisation to almost classically composed etudes for solo piano (" Far Away ") to typical Scandinavian songs, such as in the beautiful composition a wedding march" 4/5 - Klenkes (DE)
“The allegiance to Keith Jarrett is clear throughout this haunting suite of originals by this Nordic pianist Mulelid, whose subtle
patterns fit right in alongside other ivory tinklers on Rune Grammofon.” - Jazzwise 2019
“The three raise their thoughts to the art form” - Nordishe Musik (DE)
© Kjetil Mulelid