Atmosphères

Description

For this recording, pianist Tigran Hamasyan, trumpeter Arve Henriksen, guitarist Eivind Aarset, and electronic musician Jan Bang formed a quartet in response to the invitation of Manfred Eicher. Atmosphères captures the evocative music of the newly formed group as it unfolded during a recording session in June 2014 at the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano, marked by a particularly strong creative energy. While the melodic orientation often comes from Tigran Hamasyan's universe, notably in Tsirani tsar, Garun a, or Hoy Nazan, Henriksen's trumpet bounces with remarkable enthusiasm on the Armenian colors emitted by the piano. While remarkably imitating the sound of the duduk, an Armenian instrument, Henriksen enters the music in his own way, leading it to other horizons. Eivind Aarset creates subtle and atmospheric soundscapes while the samples and electronic motifs of Jan Bang, created in real time, give substance to the intrigue. Produced by Manfred Eicher, the double album was recorded and mixed in three days, in the tradition of many ECM improvisation albums.