Pianist Kjetil André Mulelid is yet another young talent of the inconvenstable Scandinavian scene of the last ten years. His first three albums were released by the Rune Gramofon, between 2017 and 2022
Next to the trusted drummer Andreas Skår Winther (Johan LindVall Trio, Karl Bjorå's openings, Left Exit, Mr K, Liv Andrea Ensemble, Megalodon Collective, Morgonrode, Spacemusic Ensemble, Vinterhagen) sits the double bass player Rune Nergaard (Astro Sonic, Bushman's Revenge, Exterm, between Det waves, Marvel Machine, Montée, Rune Your Day, Scent of Sail, Team Hegdal, Fear of Faces) to complete the formation of the renewed trio of Kjetil Mulelid.
Kjetil writes in the notes of the album: “'and now' is our first album with runes on bass. After Bjørn Marius left, after many wonderful years, I was uncertain about the future of the trio. Everything changed when I heard Rune playing the double bass with his band between Det in the Blå in Oslo one evening of February 2022. He was his first concert with the double -end, even if At the time I was not aware of it.
“And now” immediately highlights the interplay between the three musicians, energy and balanced: the first track in the lineup, “Age of enlightenment/ parasite”, leaves the Norwegian pianist to show a twilight melody framed between free and vigorous improvisations; More sunny and full of rock-soul accents, the following song, “and then we Turned Away”, chosen to promote the album exit (which is not available in digital format, but only in the physical formats of CD and LP); Equally suggestive the ballad “Singing Sands” where a spiritual dimension slowly emerges, well underlined by the discreet lyricism of the piano.
“The format of the trio seems to me ideal for jazz and improvisation when the piano is in the middle” – continues Mulelid in the notes of the album – “with a good interplay, there is room for all three tools, both in terms of frequencies and register, and for the roles that must be covered, allowing the music to flow freely. The bass and the battery enrich the song or fill what could be missing “.
03/06/2025
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
