Mark Solborg — Angels

ANDERS BANKE · TENOR SAXOPHONE & BASS CLARINET MARK SOLBORG · GUITAR BJØRN HEEBØLL · DRUMS & PERCUSSION ANGELS? Angels come in many shapes. What for some is heaven-sent is the devil in disguise to others - while reality might be found somewhere in between (?). The pure of hart and righteous, those who help in hours of need, the fallen, the vengeful, the sanctimonious, the self-sacrificing, messengers and contact-personel between earth, heaven and hell, dead canonized forefathers, saints, archangels....and those who sing. Whether Mark Solborg, Anders Banke and Bjørn Heebøll qualifies as pure angels or fallen dittos must be judged by the listener. But granted; all three have, during the course of their comprehensive and impressive work, promoted contact between man and music. Together and separately the trio has performed and recorded with an almost eclectic gathering of artists across genres. Herb Robertson, Evan Parker, Axel Dörner, New Jungle Orchestra, Niels Skousen, Bisse, Slaraffenland, Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Peter Brötzman, Lotte Anker, Danish Radio Bigband, Paul Lovens, Egberto Gismonti, Django Bates, John Tchicai, Hermeto Pascoal, Simon Toldam, Susana Santos Silva, Mark Solborg 4, Jan Sonnergaard, Pia Juul, moLd, Firebirds, Peter Bruun’s All Too Human and many, many others.. The approach of the trio is, in many ways, rounded and inspired by this celestial musical kaleidoscope. Thorough attentive, synergistic and dynamic interplay, the focal point is always at how to redeem the material at hand in the strongest possible way - regardless of genre. Over time they have developed a deep mutual understanding and - in the words of some listeners - telepathic playing style. As if all in the group breathes through the same lungs - and create transparent elastic music. This is a place of thorough, respectful, curious listening and musical talks. The last years the group has worked two main agendas: A - Original works focusing on melody, counterpoint and complex rhythm B - Interpretations of selected favourite songs by strong historical voices On Angels both are intertwined in an intense and dynamic three-way conversation. All contribute with equal voices - and on these tracks in particular you can hear Heebølls energetic and ultra melodic answers to Solborg and Bankes playfull interwoven lines and melodies. Besides Albert Aylers elegiac “Angels” you can experience Nick Drakes “Harvest Breed” exposed to bass clarinet, a rocking version of Monks “Misterioso” and “Crepuscule With Nellie” - mixed with new works like “Rigors Remain” and “Early Morning Bells” by Solborg and “Den 7. Dag” by Banke. Cobweb-transparent tonal architecture for three voices that makes the angels rejoice. --- "These angels sure know how to sing, and sometimes even to dance. The trio sounds as if Solborg, Banke and Heebøll breathe through the same lungs. .. the delicate and transparent tonal architecture for three intertwined voices can really make the angels rejoice." Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts “..utroligt smukt, stofligt og sanseligt – især som følge af Anders Bankes virtuose og dybfølte spil på basklarinetten og Mark Solborgs eminent, lette akkompagnement.“ - Ivan Rod " [Solborgs] "Early Morning Bells" åbner med at Solborg nysgerrigt afsøger guitarens klangnuancer, indtil Bjørn Heebøll blander sig og Anders Bankes basklarinets yndefulde dybde kun efterlader mig med et ord på tungen: Wow!.... ..” - Louise Rosengreen, Dagbladet Information “Early Morning Bells [by Solborg] opens with investigations of guitarsound and timbre by Solborg, until Bjørn Heebøll joins in and the graceful depths of Anders Banke’s bass clarinet leaves me with one word in mind: Wow!…." - Louise Rosengreen, Dagbladet Information The Monk reinterpretations are excellent, substantial and dense. Among the originals, the same applies to "Rigors Remain" and "Longsome", where one is slower and more sparse and the other is more urgent. "Angels" is brought on much more abstract grounds than Ayler himself would have dared; this frees the tune and makes it reach enjoyable heights. Ultimately, this album is worth of attention for its strong coherence and cleverly outlined aesthetics. - Alberto Bazzurro, All About Jazz, Italia

Angels

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