Fri June 28, 2019
20:30

Morten Ramsbøl’s True North Ensemble (DK/GB/S/A)

Morten Ramsbøl: bass
Julian Argüelles: tenor, soprano saxophone
Jacob Karlzon: piano
Reini Schmölzer: drums
Igmar Jenner: violin
Andreas Semlitsch: violin
Delphine Krenn-Viard: viola
Katja Finsel: cello

I congratulate these musicians on such a splendid effort. I wholeheartedly endorse that effort with absolutely no hesitation. Morten Ramsbøl lends credence to that time spun adage of, “Talent deserving wider recognition”.
Throughout this project, his magnificent talent, diligence in craft and scrutiny in selecting accompanying sidemen to enhance his aesthetic vision, he has subsequently raised the bar in musical achievership.

Listen? Yes, definitely. But HEAR him! (Thomas Howard Curtis III)

Returning to my home in Denmark in the summer of 2017 inspired me to write new music that would feature some of my favorite musicians and a string quartet. Each morning for two weeks I sat at my piano without an agenda, expectations or plan, apart from allowing myself to "receive" whatever would come to me and document it on my phone.

After a few months I sent some finished melodies, chords and sketches to my friend, Austrian drummer, composer and band leader, Reini Schmölzer, whom I met in 2013 when I started working as professor for double bass at the Kunst Uni Graz, Austria. Reini was given the freedom to arrange, orchestrate, interpret my music and write for the string quartet.

In May 2018, Julian Argüelles, Jacob Karlzon, Reini Schmölzer and myself plus the Igmar Jenner String Quartet met for the first time as a band, rehearsed one day, played a concert in Graz and went to Italy the next morning to record the music. The freshness and vitality can be heard on the recording and I humbly feel that the stars were aligned in our favor. (Morten Ramsbøl)