The history of Norwegian jazz would hardly have been the same without Jon Balke. Not only did he begin his musical life as an accomplice of Radka Toneff and Arild Andersen, the kingdom’s most famous jazz vocalist and bassist. Also Masqualero, The Magnetic North Orchestra and Jøkleba – three, in different ways, highly significant ensembles – are molded by the pianist’s finely tuned artistic flair.
However, Balke’s probably most outstanding project is Siwan. It’s an equally timeless as mysterious work of art, inspired by the poetry of Al-Andalus, also known as the medieval Muslim Spain. Siwan came to life in 2007 as a commissioned work for Cosmopolite Scene, later recorded and released on ECM, and now blessed – on the occasion of the 10th anniversary – with its second incarnation as a studio album....
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The history of Norwegian jazz would hardly have been the same without Jon Balke. Not only did he begin his musical life as an accomplice of Radka Toneff and Arild Andersen, the kingdom’s most famous jazz vocalist and bassist. Also Masqualero, The Magnetic North Orchestra and Jøkleba – three, in different ways, highly significant ensembles – are molded by the pianist’s finely tuned artistic flair.
However, Balke’s probably most outstanding project is Siwan. It’s an equally timeless as mysterious work of art, inspired by the poetry of Al-Andalus, also known as the medieval Muslim Spain. Siwan came to life in 2007 as a commissioned work for Cosmopolite Scene, later recorded and released on ECM, and now blessed – on the occasion of the 10th anniversary – with its second incarnation as a studio album.
Siwan’s momentum is not only due due to the Arabic singing or the baroque arrangements, but also the spirituality that permeates the music. Along the Mediterranean coast siwan is associated with the number three, which in this case points to the – compared to our polarized era – surprisingly peaceful trinity between Judaism, Christianity and Islam in Al-Andalus.
Although Siwan’s crew is constantly revolving – it’s difficult to fit together the almanacs of 14 people – you will always be able to hear this al-Andalusian cooperativeness in the music. Jon Balke’s Siwan is proof that music has the power to unite people across both time and place.
Line-up:
Mouna Boutchebak, vocals, Algerie/Marseille
Jon Balke, composer and keyboard player, Norway
Derya Turkan, violin, Israel
Pedram Khavar Zamini, tombak / zarb, Iran
Helge Norbakken, percussion, Norway
Bjarte Eike, baroque violin, Norway/Denmark
Barokksolistene, string orchestra, Norway
Jon Balke Siwan er Europas førende ensemble, der blander mellemøstlig musik- og lyriktradition med barokstrygere på højeste niveau. Ensemblet tæller 14 musikere. Foruden den norske komponist, dirigent og pianist Jon Balke består Siwan af Mona Boutchebak (vokal og oud), Derya Turkan (Kemence), Pedram Khavar Zamini (Tumbak), Helge Norbakken (percussion), sammen med Barokksolistene, som er otte af Europas førende strygere inden for tidlig musik ledet af barokviolinist Bjarte Eike, der er en de bærende kræfter på den københavnske scene for tidlig musik. Det anmelderroste ensemble har eksisteret siden 2007 og udgiver til november deres anden plade “Nahnou Houm" på det tyske selskab ECM Records. I forbindelse med udgivelsen i november samarbejder Siwan med Brorsons Kirke om at kunne præsentere ensemblet som det eneste sted i Danmark den 5. november.
Det nye ECM-album “Nahnou Houm” får urpremiere den 4. november i Oslo, og den 5. november bliver det så opført i København, hvor albummet også er indspillet i foråret 2017 sammen med netop Barokksolistene. Koncerten er støttet af Augustinus Fonden.
“SIWAN is an orchestral adventure initiated by Jon Balke in 2007. Combining musicians from Arabic and Persian cultures, improvisers and Baroque music, it creates a universe that points towards the Al Andalusia period where there existed long periods of fruitful coexistence between the three religions ‘of the book’.The poetry used is from this period and are performed in arabic and spanish.” – Jon Balke.
“Rarely during the course of a listening year does a recording strike such emotional depth as the Norwegian keyboardist and conductor Jon Balke's latest ECM outing, the cross-cultural masterpiece “Siwan”. – Billboard.
Line-up:
Mouna Boutchebak, vocals, Algerie/Marseille
Jon Balke, composer and keyboard player, Norway
Derya Turkan, violin, Israel
Pedram Khavar Zamini, tombak / zarb, Iran
Helge Norbakken, percussion, Norway
Bjarte Eike, baroque violin, Norway/Denmark
Barokksolistene, string orchestra, Norway
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