Psalm Gunnar Halle & Espen Eriksen

• 1Se, Vi Går Opp Til Jerusalem02:59
• 2Velt Alle Dine Veie04:31
• 3Å, For Djup I Jesu Kjærleik03:21
• 4Noen Må Våke I Verdens Natt05:06
• 5Kirken Den Er Et Gammelt Hus05:43
• 6Vend Bort Din Vreide05:17
• 7Jesus, Det Eneste03:42
• 8O Bli Hos Meg!01:56
• Total Runtime32:35

Info for Psalm

On their second album, the young but experienced duo of Gunnar Halle (trumpet) and Espen Eriksen (piano) use psalms as a point of departure for lovely, challenging and searching improvisations. Their mode of expression ranges from dark and introspective to more rhythmically playful and exalted. The project presents both well-known and less familiar psalms in new and stimulating ways, and at the same time demonstrates the strength and durability that characterizes this material. The duo's debut recording was the critically-acclaimed album Meditations on Christmas in 2010, which featured improvisations based on Christmas hymns and folk songs. Psalm is a continuation of this project, but this time they are using hymns and psalms from the entire church year. "Relating to these hymns and folk songs on purely musical terms, without thinking about how they are usually played, was such an interesting proposition that we wanted to keep going," says pianist Espen Eriksen. He developed a close connection with these psalms when he worked as a substitute organist in his youth. "The challenge of approaching this material and the attraction it holds are in a way two sides of the same coin," according to the two musicians. In many cases the key was to eliminate the original harmonies. "When you're left with only the melody, it's much easier to come up with ideas for both arrangements and improvisations." The duo had already presented a number of church concerts with this material before going into the studio. "In the beginning we were afraid that it might appear offensive and disrespectful to give familiar and beloved festival hymns completely new packaging. But actually we have had only positive feedback from audiences of all ages, and people are delighted to hear the old hymns and folk songs, some of which are quite ancient, in an entirely new way." The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo in the course of two short and intense sessions.

Gunnar Halle, trumpet
Espen Eriksen, piano

Gunnar Halle
is a Norwegian trumpet player living in Oslo, playing with Norwegian, Danish and Swedish groups. In april 2015 the first album in his name, Istanbul Sky came out on German label Ozella Music, and since then he has been touring with his own quartet: Gunnar Halle - trumpet, synth, vocal, Stephan Sieben – guitar, Putte Johander – bass, Knut Finsrud – drums.

In recent years he has also played with Mari Boine, Eivind Aarset Sonic Codex, Berke Can Ozcan, duo with pianoplayer Espen Eriksen, Pierre Dørge & The New Jungle Orchestra, Lars Andreas Haug - LaBand, Josefine Lindstrand, Solfrid Molland and many others.

Beside being a musician he also work in his home-studio, recording trumpet, synth and voice. The album Istanbul Sky was made there, and he has made additional recordings for Wetle Holte, Josefine Cronholm, Nana Jacobi, Berke Can Ozcan, Thommy Andersson, and many more. He has also composed and produced music for documentary film.

From 2014 he has also been teaching a little at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, and at Kråkstad Jazz in Ski just outside Oslo, where kids learn to improvise and learn music by the ear.

Educated at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen 1997-2002, he stayed and worked in Copenhagen Denmark until 2007. In this period he toured and recorded with numerous groups; Tys Tys, Nowhereland, Jogujo Circuit, Susi Hyldgaard, Fredrik Lundin Overdrive, Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Josephine Cronholm, and Lisbeth Diers were some of them.

Halle was also one of the early members and founders of ILK, Independent Label of København, where he released eight records in this ten years period. Two of them was with electronica trio Jogujo Circuit where he composed and produced it all together with Joakim Frøystein. He was nominated for a Danish Grammy in 2004 as ’new jazz-name of the year’. Tys Tys received a Grammy for ’Go get some’ the same year.

Gunnar Halle grew up just outside Oslo, and played with different groups around Sandvika, Bærum from 1988-1992. Like ’Hvorfor Ikke?’ with Erlend Skomsvoll, and Musikkflekken Workshop Big Band, playing the music of saxophonist Vidar Johansen and Tore Brunborg amongst others.

From 1993 he did his one-year military service at HMKG, and after that he studied music and philosophy at the University in Oslo until 1997.

Espen Eriksen
was born in Haugesund in 1974. He is best known today as leader of the Espen Eriksen Trio, which released its debut album on the renowned Rune Grammofon label last spring to rave reviews and favourable comparisons with the likes of Esbjørn Svensson and Tord Gustavsen. Eriksen contributed as pianist, songwriter and arranger on Christina Bjordal’s international solo debut for Universal Music. His varied musical background ranges from playing the organ to the pop band Briskeby, and he has performed with such prestigious instrumentalists as Bendik Hofseth, Mats Eilertsen and Jarle Vespestad.

This album contains no booklet.