Ketil Bjørnstad - David Darling - The River (1996)

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“The River” (ECM 1593), the 1996 recording by Norwegian pianist Ketil Bjørnstad and american cellist David Darling received positive press notices around the world for its thoughtful and unostentatious approach to trans-idiomatic music-making. “An unforgettable listening experience”, the Sydney Morning Herald insisted: “The boundaries between composition and improvisation are blurred beyond recognition. What emerges has an organic quality devoid of contrivances to provide ‘blowing vehicles’ or display ‘clever writing’. Similarly, ‘great playing’ has been entirely subordinated to the cause of the most profoundly direct emotional communication with the listener. Much of what happens is quite simple: sublime melody from one instrument, delicately shaded by the other.” This process is extended on “Epigraphs”, which features performances of exceptional subtlety, whether shaped spontaneously in the moment, pre-formulated by cellist or pianist, or freely based upon music of the renaissance, an inspirational source for both musicians.

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Darling and Bjørnstad are both members of The Sea (see ECM 1545 and 1633) the tempestuous quartet, now in its sixth year of existence, which also includes Terje Rypdal on guitar and Jon Christensen on drums; the duo was formed to isolate certain characteristics that arose in that group’s improvising.

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Tracks:
01 The River I Byrd 3:18
02 The River II Bjørnstad 5:48
03 The River III Byrd 2:33
04 The River IV Bjørnstad 5:20
05 The River V Bjørnstad 5:39
06 The River VI Bjørnstad 5:19
07 The River VII Bjørnstad 7:42
08 The River VIII Bjørnstad 4:59
09 The River IX Bjørnstad 6:30
10 The River X Bjørnstad 3:26
11 The River XI Bjørnstad 3:16
12 The River Xii Gibbons 1:42