Keith Jarret might play a small role
in Henrik Sørensen’s great interest in the jazzy part of improvisation on the
church organ. Today Jarret’s album from 1976 Hymns/Spheres is a classic
and it has just be re-released by ECM Records.
Sørensen doesn’t mention Jarret as
an inspiration, and he doesn’t have to!
The church organ has been used for improvisation
through centuries and Sørensen has a background in jazz, classical music and as
a church organist. His first album with improvisation on the organ was released
in 2010.
It was the intention, then, that the
next album should consist of written music composed by jazz people. Instead we
got a double CD with original, improvised music, recorded in two different churches
in Denmark. Different in size and therefore different in mood and sound.
The albums were made in Vor Frue
Kirke in Assens and in Ørsted Kirke on Fyn. The one from Assens is big in volume
and sound. The same is to be said about the music: it is big and at certain
times violent. The sound of the room is evident on this very fine recording.
In the small church in Ørsted it is the
chamber feeling which is at center. The sound is condensed and almost intimate.
And it reflects in the playing of Sørensen. It becomes kind and straight
forward.
The twelve parts of Aer Ludus Suite
are without a doubt my favorites. I’m lost in a time-dissolving peace, whenever
I listen to them. You find melody and they have an nice accessibility even
though you find attitude and strangeness.
Genres are to Henrik Sørensen something
which floats and that openness can be heard at all times.
Organum Momentum II-III is a worthy
follow-up to the first album. It is both admirable and important that music
like this is released.
Review: Niels Overgård. Translation:
DSI Swinging Europe.
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