Brugskunst (CD)

Danish trumpeter and composer Anne Efternøler returns with a bold new release, an album that redefines ensemble interplay with an unconventional lineup: trumpet and three double basses. Showcasing Efternøler's distinct compositional voice, the album balances structured ideas with free-flowing improvisation, all while embracing an exploratory, minimalist approach.

‘Brugskunst’ follows the 2022 debut of her atypical quartet project, which was nominated for a Danish Music Award and named one of the best jazz albums of the year by JazzNyt.dk.

Hailed as "one of the most creative and exciting trumpeters in the Nordic region today" (Salt Peanuts, 2022), Efternøler has spent over a decade carving out a unique path in Scandinavian jazz and improvisation. Her music is deeply expressive, characterized by a strong emotional connection to her fellow musicians and audiences alike. With ‘Brugskunst’, she continues to push boundaries, joined by an extraordinary trio of bassists: Thomas Morgan, Anders 'AC' Christensen, and Richard Andersson.

Efternøler's approach to composition is guided by restraint. "We live in a world of information overload, and while composing this new music, I wanted to challenge myself to avoid overloading the compositions with too much information," she explains. "I kept asking myself: how little can I settle for?" This ethos is evident throughout the album, with pieces like ‘All You Need Is Less’, a melody built on just a single note, and ‘Mellemtidskrig’, an investigation into how much can be held back before the music stops moving.

Offering a contrast to the album's stark beauty, Efternøler infuses humor and playfulness into her work. ‘Lene Flytter Muren Med Sin Volvo’ (‘Lene Is Moving the Wall with Her Volvo’) is a sonic depiction of a spinning car wheel, and ‘Fråds’ (‘Gluttony’) playfully indulges in the most basic bass figure imaginable. One track, ‘Ting Vi Kunne Have Fragtet’ (‘Things We Could Have Transported’), was even written as a tongue-in-cheek response to a lone critic disappointed by the lack of traditional bass lines in her previous work. "I don't like disappointing people, so I wrote a song for that guy!" she jokes. The track builds hypnotically around a recurring bass motif, layered with shifting orchestrations and rhythmic displacements.

With ‘Brugskunst’, Efternøler further cements her reputation as a fearless innovator, offering a sonic world where space, interaction, and storytelling take center stage.

Line-up:

Anne Efternøler - trumpet, Richard Andersson - double bass, Anders "AC" Christensen - double bass, Thomas Morgan - double bass