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Mats Eilertsen: Hymn For Hope

By Mark Sullivan
December 16, 2021
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Norwegian bassist & composer

Mats Eilertsen

bass
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Eilertsen has done his best to stay active during the pandemic. His previous solo album Solitude Central (Hemli, 2021) was drawn from his captivating improvised performance during the 2020 Norwegian Digital Jazz Festival. Hymn For Hope is a quartet album, with Eilertsen's compositions augmented by a few brief collective improvisations. He is joined by saxophonist

Tore Brunborg

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Tore Brunborg—a member of the band

Masqualero

" data-original-title="" title="">Masqualero, as well as appearing on ECM albums by

Tord Gustavsen

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Tord Gustavsen and

Mathias Eick

trumpet
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Mathias Eick—guitarist

Thomas Dahl

guitar
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Dahl—who previously played on Eilertsen's album Rubicon (ECM Records, 2016), with Eilersen in the Skydive Trio and led his own debut Thomas Dahl & Court: Quilter (Losen Records, 2019)—and drummer Hans Hulbækmo (

Moskus

" data-original-title="" title="">Moskus,

Hanna Paulsberg

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Hanna Paulsberg Concept).

"Little Thug" opens the set with an easy swing feel, and a classic cool jazz tone from the saxophone. "K" is a rubato excursion, with melodic saxophone balanced by atmospheric guitar, until Dahl erupts into a fiery solo before being joined by Brunborg in a unison line. "Circle" makes an impressive entry with an ostinato pattern reflective of the title, and energetic solos from guitar and saxophone. The title tune establishes the hymn-like atmosphere of the album title while still retaining a rubato rhythmic feel until the very end, with an ecstatic saxophone theme fading into a gentle coda.

"M" is firmly back in rhythmic territory, with Dahl's guitar providing both atmospherics and a powerful solo. "Sunday" opens with a contemplative bass solo over a drone and a regular drum rhythm before ushering in a solemn theme, followed by sinuous saxophone and guitar solos. "August" exudes the expected warmth and sunshine, but there is also space for a sparse, rubato bridge. "Call" is the longest of the improvisations, led by keening saxophone and rumbling arco double bass, followed by the bracing rock of "First" (and its contrasting lyrical bridge). "X" concludes the set with atmospheric percussion and a guitar ostinato. After a typically melancholy theme the leader takes a final lyrical solo.

Eilertsen took the cover photo, an enigmatic black and white image of two people sharing a public space, but facing away from each other: together, yet apart. A fitting visual metaphor for his compositions and the empathetic playing of his band mates.

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Track Listing

Little Thug; Oscuro; K; Sunrise; Circle Hymn For Hope; M; Sunday; August; Chiaro; Call; First; X.

Personnel

Mats Eilertsen

bass

Thomas Dahl

guitar

Tore Brunborg

saxophone

Hans Hulbaekmo

drums

Album information

Title: Hymn For Hope | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Hemli

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Mats Eilertsen Concerts

Oct 26 Sun

Conservatorio di Milano – Sala Giuseppe Verdi

Conservatorio Di Musica Giuseppe Verdi
Milano, Italy

Nov 2 Sun

National Concert Hall

National Concert Hall
Dublin, Ireland

Nov 6 Thu

Koninklijke Schouwburg

Koninklijke Schouwburg
Den Haag, Netherlands

Nov 8 Sat

Christuskirche Mannheim

Christuskirche Mannheim
Mannheim, Germany

Nov 15 Sat

Bulgaria Concert Hall

��ѧݧ� "��ݧԧѧ�ڧ�" / Bulgaria Hall
Sofia, Bulgaria

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