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Scandinavian Art Ensemble with Tomasz Stańko: The Copenhagen Session Vol. 1

By Troy Dostert
May 18, 2025
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Scandinavian Art Ensemble with Tomasz Stańko: The Copenhagen Session Vol. 1

Although trumpet legend

Tomasz Stańko

trumpet
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Stańko sadly left us in 2018, there are fortunately plenty of signs that his recorded legacy is still unfolding. In 2024 his sparkling release, September Night (ECM), documenting a live engagement from 2004, reminded us of the distinctive emotional vibrancy of this most sensitive of modern trumpeters. And now we have the first of a planned two-volume release, courtesy of a 2015 residency Stańko spent in Denmark with the Scandinavian Art Ensemble. Not only does this striking set of music reveal Stańko's imposing skills even at 73 years of age, but it illustrates his hallmark willingness to challenge himself by finding much younger musicians who could bring out new nuances of his playing.

Stańko's predilection for working with youthful talent was exhibited marvelously on his string of brilliant recordings from the early 2000s. Soul of Things (ECM, 2001), Suspended Night (ECM, 2003), and Lontano (ECM, 2005), as well as the aforementioned September Night, reveal the special chemistry Stańko created with pianist

Marcin Wasilewski

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcin Wasilewski, bassist

Slawomir Kurkiewicz

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Slawomir Kurkiewicz and drummer

Michal Miskiewicz

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Michal Miskiewicz, all of whom were at least thirty years younger than the leader. The up-and-coming generation of Polish and Scandinavian talent on display with the Scandinavian Art Ensemble possesses a similar alchemical power, heard to fine effect on the hard-hitting opener, "One O'clock Junk," a jubilant and bouncy number that sees Stańko sparring tenaciously in collective soloing with the band's two other trumpeters,

Tomasz Dabrowski

trumpet
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Dabrowski and

Snorri Sigurðarson

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Snorri Sigur?arson, both of whom are just as energized as Stańko. It is a joy to hear them tossing ideas back and forth with gusto. Vibraphonist Martin Fabricius and saxophonist

Thomas Hass

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Hass then take solo turns that are just as effective in their emotional power.

"Before the Rain" turns to more familiar Stańko terrain, with a dark poignancy that the trumpeter limns with patient grace over spartan accompaniment from Fabricius and pianist

Artur Tuznik

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Artur Tuznik before the rest of the ensemble enters with a subtle groove. Then "Circles" gives vocalist

Johanna Elina Sulkunen

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Johanna Elina Sulkunen the spotlight, and her dusky delivery makes the perfect complement to Stańko's understated reserve, especially when her wordless vocals reverberate across the sound field. There is an enticing degree of space in the music, as the ensemble lets the music breathe; bassist

Richard Andersson

bass
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Andersson and drummer

Radek Wosko

drums
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Radek Wosko deserve much of the credit, as their loose-limbed approach allows the music to unfold at an unhurried pace, leaving room for the horns to play off of each other during the back half of the track.

The last two cuts are just as terrific. "Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch" is an up-tempo piece with Sulkunen's wordless vocals reminiscent of

Norma Winstone

vocals
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Norma Winstone's work with

Kenny Wheeler

flugelhorn
1930 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wheeler; and Stańko's toneless growls to begin his solo are again indicative of his chance-taking spirit, although his lyrical form during the rest of it will surprise no one. And Hass' enticing solo feeds off the spark provided by Tu?nik's animated block chords. This track in particular showcases the group's ability to swing hard, an invigorating slice of modern jazz.

The session concludes with "The Bridge that Broke on a Blue Monday," as this time Sulkunen vocalizes alongside Fabricius, with the two tracing the expressive melody before retreating to give bassist Andersson his own duo conversation with Fabricius, eventually giving way to a lengthy trumpet statement before the ensemble leads the track out on a haunting finish. With a set as superb as The Copenhagen Session Vol. 1, we anticipate similarly delightful music to emerge on Vol. 2 of the session.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

One O’clock Junk; Before the Rain; Circles; Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch; The Bridge that Broke on a Blue Monday.

Personnel

Tomasz Stańko

trumpet

Tomasz Dabrowski

trumpet

Snorri Sigur?arson

trumpet

Thomas Hass

saxophone

Artur Tuznik

piano

Martin Fabricius

vibraphone

Johanna Elina Sulkunen

vocals

Richard Andersson

bass

Radek Wosko

drums

Album information

Title: The Copenhagen Session Vol. 1 | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: April Records

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