Featuring pianist Esben Tjalve and the Robert Plant drummer Dave Smith the Babel label returns with its first album in four years in expatriate Dane bassist Henrik Jensen's piano trio recording Above Your House. Dazzling player Jensen, heard by marlbank in singer Sara Colman's band playing live with pianist Rebecca Nash and surprise guest saxophonist Trish Clowes at the Vortex last year, says confirming the plan: ''All the compositions are written by me with Esben and Dave's sound and musical approach in mind. I don't really like to tell anyone what to play, and what they bring naturally to the music is invaluable. The last 3 albums of mine were written for a quartet, which was really good fun, but I must admit I'm really enjoying being back in the intimacy and freedom of the trio setting.''
The Babel label's Oliver Weindling, above: photo: marlbank, is clearly excited at the prospect of a new record given his positivity about the project in a brief phone call this week when he revealed his plans, the first Babel release since Lockdown and last recording he masterminded which was a luminous Fred Thomas Wagner tribute.
Above Your House was recorded at the Crescent studios in Swindon last October. Very different in nature to the Thomas, brief initial listens suggest a progressively dreamy approach that would sit well in a listening session with the different approaches of trios led by Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen and by Jensen's fellow Dane Jasper Høiby particularly on a track such as 'The Hunt.'
Jensen explains that ''Esben and I go back to the early 2000s in Copenhagen, before we both started studying at the Royal Academy Music in London.''
''Esben has played on all my Followed By Thirteen albums.''
''And I love his energy and creativity, always trying to push it, and he's a wonderful composer, which can be heard in his own group Red Kite.''
Somerset based
As the Jazz Locavores Jensen has also performed with Iain ''Balloon Man'' Ballamy and Smith
''I moved from London to Frome in 2020 and got reconnected with Dave who had already been there for a couple of years. I've been absolutely spoiled and blessed having the opportunity to play with Dave regularly in lots of amazing settings here in the area together with such legends as Iain Ballamy, Sam Crockatt, Rebecca Nash and Gareth Williams. Dave, like Esben is super creative, he is always searching for new ways to approach the music, and is obviously such a master behind the drumkit.''
Smith has also cropped up on recent Polar Bear sax legend Mark Lockheart's album Smiling.
Above Your House which is to be released on 20 September is dedicated to Henrik's son, Aksel. London label Babel was founded by Vortex director Weindling in 1994 and has released over 130 albums including the acclaimed Mercury nominated Polar Bear album Held on the Tips of Fingers and Portico Quartet classic, Knee-Deep in the North Sea.
Henrik Jensen, pictured. Photographer: unknown
Tags:
