The Helge Lien Trio has firmly established itself as one of Norway’s foremost jazz ensembles, with millions of streams to prove it. Featuring Helge Lien on piano, Johannes Eick on bass, and Knut Aalefjær on drums, the trio delivers moving melodies, playful improvisations, and attentive interplay. When their creative energy meets Tore Brunborg’s remarkable ability to convey intimacy and depth through the medium of the saxophone, a new dimension is created. Their collaboration has resulted in the album entitled “Funeral Dance”.
The album pays tribute to the renowned Ukrainian pianist Mikhail “Misha” Alperin, who was Helge Lien’s teacher and mentor for many years, shaping the award-winning soundscape for which the Helge Lien Trio is now known.
“Misha” always used to say: “Music is about singing, dancing, life, and death.”
“That became an important realization for me. He turned my musical world upside down when I was 19 years old, and he still has an enormous influence on me and my work to this day,” says Helge Lien. After Misha’s passing in 2018, Helge was contacted by Per Hasse Andersen of Maijazz with a view to creating a special concert in collaboration with Tore Brunborg to honor him. The concert took place exactly a year after Misha’s death.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Tore and had wanted to play with him for years. So the fact that, in this project and on this record, I got one of my heroes to interpret and play my music has been a dream come true. For me, this was also an extra special way in which to honor my teacher and mentor,” Helge Lien explains.
For Maijazz’s commissioned concert in 2019, both Helge Lien and Tore Brunborg composed, exchanged ideas, and finalized the concept with the trio. The concert received standing ovations and overwhelmingly positive feedback. For both Lien and Brunborg, “Funeral Dance” was an important and meaningful project.
“I’m incredibly grateful that I got the opportunity to record this album with Tore. The songs Tore composed feel like they were tailor-made for the trio’s soundscape. The album has a cohesive and seamless feel to it that I’m proud of. “Funeral Dance” is our tribute to Misha, and as he used to say, both life and music are about singing, dancing, life, and death,” says Lien.
When the award-winning trio combines their musical prowess with the sought-after jazz saxophonist Tore Brunborg, the result is a deeply satisfying and beautiful musical journey.
Helge Lien – on piano
Johannes Eick – on bass
Knut Aalefjær – on drums
Tore Brunborg – on saxophone
Photo: CF Wesenberg