Arve Henriksen - Towards Language (2017)

With Towards Language trumpeter Arve Henriksen is back with his trusted long time musical partners Jan Bang and Erik Honoré. Arve first collaborated with the pair on the much loved and highly praised Chiaroscuro (2004), Arve's second album, and later on Cartography (ECM 2008) and Places Of Worship (2013). Also an important part of the line-up is Eivind Aarset, the ECM associated guitarist extraordinaire. Towards Language is Arve's ninth album (eight on Rune Grammofon and one on ECM) under his own name, in addition he has collaborated on records with artists like David Sylvian, Jon Balke, Christian Wallumrød, Trygve Seim and Trio Mediaeval, as well as a dozen albums as founder member of free noise trio Supersilent. Arve has never been short of praise when it comes to expressing the importance his collaborators and musicians have on the creative process. Asked to comment on his new album, and its title, here's what he has to say: 'To express something on your own can be quite challenging at times. I have for years been in creative collaborations with musicians and producers that have ecouraged and inspired me. With this help and inspiration to discover new sounds and music I have struggled and made my way to gradually be able to create some sort of language and a way of telling stories with my trumpet and singing. They have all coloured and gradually transformed me through different artistic timezones that I have passed through. All the information, concerts, discussions and impressions have had a significant impact on the process of gradually coming closer towards the core of communication through music. With this recording, the good help and inspirational artistic contributions from Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang at the recording session in Oslo has led to these selected tracks. Music that has a connection to 'Places of Worship', but this time recorded 'live' in the studio in a chamber music like approach inspired by contemporary elements from composers like Toru Takemitsu and Manuel de Falla, to traditional organ music, and at the end of the album bringing in a traditional 'kven' (ancient Nordic song tradition) theme from the roots of my family from the North of Norway, sung by Anna Maria Friman of Trio Mediaeval.'