”MICHAEL SUNDING, THE MELODIES OF CARL NIELSEN,
FEAT. MADS VINDING”
HAS THAT TIMELESS EVERGREEN QUALITY TO IT.
Both the critics and the audience agree, that this celebration of beautiful melodies from the great danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) – added nordic jazzfeeling and interpretation by Michael Sunding, piano and Mads Vinding, doublebass, has got something special!
Released in Denmark on 9th. of June 2015 – the 150 years birthday of Nielsen.
The gentle musical arrangements of Michael Sunding combines the musical poetry of Carl Nielsen with cheeky attitudes and fantasies of jazz. It’s ”Nordic cool”, but also warm, classic and heartfelt music, with big skies and roots deeply planted in the Scandinavian soil.
Feel the atmosphere of the Scandinavian seasons – from the lovely summer with the endless long bright nights to the thoughtful echo in the autumn, followed by the melancholic dark winter a...
”MICHAEL SUNDING, THE MELODIES OF CARL NIELSEN,
FEAT. MADS VINDING”
HAS THAT TIMELESS EVERGREEN QUALITY TO IT.
Both the critics and the audience agree, that this celebration of beautiful melodies from the great danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) – added nordic jazzfeeling and interpretation by Michael Sunding, piano and Mads Vinding, doublebass, has got something special!
Released in Denmark on 9th. of June 2015 – the 150 years birthday of Nielsen.
The gentle musical arrangements of Michael Sunding combines the musical poetry of Carl Nielsen with cheeky attitudes and fantasies of jazz. It’s ”Nordic cool”, but also warm, classic and heartfelt music, with big skies and roots deeply planted in the Scandinavian soil.
Feel the atmosphere of the Scandinavian seasons – from the lovely summer with the endless long bright nights to the thoughtful echo in the autumn, followed by the melancholic dark winter and moving on to the inspiring optimism of the springtime.
The release has recieved great attention and recognition in the Danish world of media!
Radio-appearances, ”Album of the week” in Danish national Radio (DR) P8 jazz-channel, plus also aired in P2 - the classical channel of DR.
Here are some of the statements from TV and the newspapers about the music (translated):
”Elegant and effortless. Everything appears both spontaneous and well thought out at the same time. A unique piece of duo-art”. (*****, Kjeld Frandsen, the newspaper Berlingske Tidende)
”It is a really refreshing album, and it is impossible to be in a bad mood when listening. The fine, jazzy arrangements and improvisations are evocative, lyrical, full of light (…) You are surrounded by exellent sound and good vibes from first to last.” (Per Rask Madsen, the newspaper Information)
”Respect and elegance characterizes this lovely release (…) with the playfullness of improvisation as the central point” (****, Mikkel Krarup, the newspaper Fyns Stiftstidende)
”It may be called ”Nordic-cool, but it is also ”Nordic-hot”, and it can be hard to choose a favorite track. This is the way you can play around with the national legacy, if you are really gifted.” (TV-channel DK4)
”A serious danish answer to Jazz in Swedish, the legendary album of Johansson”
(****, Ivan Rod, musicmagazine GAFFA)
Danish pianoplayer Michael Sunding is widely credited for his infectious musical drive, empathic melodic timing and playfullness, regardless of which genre or cooperation he is involved in.
This project has been waiting in the background for many years – actually ever since he as a young man heard the iconic album ”Jazz på Svenska” (Jazz in Swedish), where swedish pianist Jan Johansson plays swedish folksongs, and right there the dream of making a Danish counterpart was born.
A lot of water has run under the bridge since then, and with this release he musically returns back home to pay tribute to his Danish and Nordic foundation.
His duo-partner on the album, bassplayer Mads Vinding, is truly one of the greatest Danish musicians ever. A top-of-the-draw name for decades on the international jazz-scene playing with virtually everyone from Quincy Jones, Chet Baker & Herbie Hancock to Stan Getz. His sence of both lyrical playing and groove is legendary.
This duo-format with grand piano and doublebass requires precision, empathy and musical excess from both parts, and at the same time provides musical possibilties i.e. of space between the notes – which allows the listener to breathe with the music and gives an intense close-up precense.
The critically acclaimed pianist and singer Michael Sunding is the overall artistic leader at this new exiting scene under Cph. Jazz festival at PIANOTEKET, and sits centrally at the grand piano at all the concerts. He also writes a lot of the original material played along the way.
He possesses a real piano touch and has, among other statements like "elegant, unique, truly gifted", been compared to the legendary late Swedish pianist Jan Johansson and his "Jazz in Swedish". Michael masters everything from salsa and soul over jazz to blues and gospel - and his inner playful child makes the live experience both intense, entertaining and in the present.
Selected CV includes the albums "Solo, Live at Copenhagen Jazz Festival", "The Melodies of Carl Nielsen" and "The Melodies of Nordic Christmas", both duo with Mads Vinding. Many years of cooperation with names like gospel/jazzsinger Etta Cameron (US), Kenn Lending Blues Band (DK), rock'n roller Billy Cross (US), even tours with Dr. Hook (US) and many other activities - e.g. Ass. Prof. at the Rythmic Music Conservatory in Cph.
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