Available on July the 12th via Barefoot Records
Henrik Olsson is a Swedish guitarist and composer based in Copenhagen. He is a member of the improvising collective/record label Barefoot Records and is well established on the danish and international jazz/improvisation scene, where his playing have attracted attention through his own projects Penumbra Ensemble, The Hum, EHM as well as through various ad hoc contexts. His new project Hand of Benediction is a guitar-bass-drum trio and features two unique voices on the scene; drummer Rune Lohse and bass player Jeppe Skovbakke. This recording presents the trio as the protagonist in a semi-occult, electric free jazz-drama, where the narrative structure of Henrik Olsson´s compositions encompasses straightforwardness and wildness as well as poetic obscurity.
Henrik Olsson´s debut album “Penumbra Ensemble” was very well received among the critics and was by All About Jazz called “a surreal vision, a deeply personal expression of avant-garde rock, jazz, world music and poetic soundscapes “ and “Amazing, suggestive – a fascinating debut and an invigorating style denial ” by the German magazine Jazz Podium.
He has played and collaborated with musicians such as Kresten Osgood, Lotte Anker, Peter Friis Nielsen, Laura Toxværd, Daysuke Takaoka, Takashi Sugawa, Max Johnson, Olie Brice, Marcela Lucatelli among many others. Rune Lohse is well known for his work with Horse Orchestra, Michael Rexen, and Klimaforandringer. Jeppe Skovbakke has toured and recorded with several generations of Danish jazz musicians and a number of international soloists ranging from John Tchicai to Rhys Chatham.
More about Henrik’s projects can be found under the links below, those are containing some dates , line ups and links to the music selling services , like bandcamp for example.
http://cargocollective.com/henrikolsson
https://soundcloud.com/henrikthoroscarolsson/
That includes very interesting Duo collaboration with trombonist Ola Rubin, the programme which both artists recently presented during Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2019, which just ended last weekend. Creative communication with multiplied perception levels with innovative articulation as well as technical freedom and invention well rooted in the free tradition, but in the same time parallel exploring patterns and new lines of communication via melody and sonic poetry.
… And equally challenging, however for completely different reasons, another new project called EHM, with trumpeter Erik Kimestad Pedersen and vocalist Marcela Lucatelli. Rough and very rich and full of contrasts and dissonances taking it almost on the edge of brutality with its anti-aesthetic, but addictive approach.
“One of the most interesting new labels in Danish jazz.”
That is how the American magazine All About Jazz describes Copenhagen-based Barefoot Records — a musician-run collective and record label, consisting of artists from Denmark, Norway and Poland. Originality and artistic integrity are keywords in the catalogue of 60 critically acclaimed releases of the label that, instead of sticking to any specific genre, takes musical gut feeling as its guiding force.
Henrik Olsson – Hand Of Benediction
Format: Vinyl, CD, Digital
Catalogue no.: BFREC061LP/BFREC061CD
Label: Barefoot Records
Style: Jazz/Improvisation
Origin: Denmark
Release date: 12.07.19
Track listing:
1. Aventurine
2. N.H.F.T.P.H.O.B.
3. Shocking method restores lost hair
4. Collect in a bowl, let the afflicted
person drink
5. The Voynich manuscript
6. Hilarious moments
7. Black Tourmaline
8. Harmony
9. Udug
10. Embroider it upon black satin and say: “9s¯!(z>W!*#1&/H
Line-up and credits
Henrik Olsson: Electric Guitar
Jeppe Skovbakke: Electric Bass/Double Bass
Rune Lohse: Drums
Guests:
Julie Kjær – Flute/Bass Clarinet
Kristian Tangvik – Tuba
Recorded and Mixed by Jens Benz
Mastered by John Fomsgaard
Artwork by Henrik Olsson
Layout Design by Ola Rubin