Hoff/Somsen/Lindholm@BodøJazzOpen, Beddingen Cultural Centre

Three of a Kind: Hoff / Somsen / Lindholm

By now the hall has filled up and the Hoff / Somsen / Lindholm trio take to the stage. Jan Gunnar and Carsten have known each other for six years. Right from their first gig in Copenhagen, they realised how well they harmonise with each other. The opener, a piece called Spring by Carsten, immediately shows the direction: Soft, melodic and heartfelt. But it doesn't stop there, because crooning is not their thing. The mood changes in an instant and an intense interplay full of power and expressiveness develops without completely abandoning the lyrical setting.

The Trio Hoff /  Somsen / Lindholm

The trio breathes in time, they listen to each other and give each other plenty of space and inspiration. The three not only act as a unit on stage: mutual respect and the certainty of being in good hands in this community inspire them. 

While the subarctic storm rages outside, the European trio plays sensitive melodies. Jasper is a very melodic bass player with a memorable sound. The list of his recordings on Challenge Records is long and the names of his fellow players are sonorous.

Jasper Somsen frommWageningen, NL

Carsten's rhythm work is a solid bench. Full of attention and always wide awake, he keeps an eye on his colleagues. He serves the group sensitively and very musically. Always open to surprises, the Dane, who is very modest in his demeanour, presents his piece Indian Summer and points out that he has studied Indian tabla music intensively. In no time at all, he reveals himself to be a mantric percussionist and a fine melodic-rhythmic interweaving of drums and piano unfolds. It doesn't take long before Jasper also jumps on the bandwagon. But Carsten's motto remains: Reduce to the maximum. Strength lies in tranquillity. And once again a sound unfolds as if from a single mould!

Once again, it is Jan Gunnar Hoff who opens our ears to a new dimension. His piano playing is characterised by role models such as Herbie Hancock or Chick Corea. He loves to demand everything he can from the piano and shares his joy of playing with his colleagues. The band plays atmospheric, fine jazz without the slightest hint of kitsch. In one of the last pieces, Beneath the Surface, which the scuba diver Jasper dedicated to his teacher Enrico Pieranunci, a bubbling, bubbling and flowing underwater world becomes visible and the wonderfully lyrical Jan Gunnar takes his audience on a maritime safari this time.

Jan Gunnar Hoff from Bodø, Norway

Although the audience in the somewhat chilly hall had wrapped up warm in the meantime due to the weather, they demanded an encore so that they could set off on their journey home revitalised. A wonderful start for me.

The next morning, it's time for desk work. My three musician friends have left in the meantime and I have to write down my impressions.