Trygve Seim Helsinki Songs (NOR) – MalmiJazz

At the first MalmiJazz club of the year, Norvegian saxophone virtuoso Trygve Seim joins forces with an Estonian-Finnish band.

The concert features music from Seim's Helsinki Songs album.

With its overt lyricism, strong themes and a sense of perpetual melodic invention, the album quickly identifies itself as a classic-in-the-making. Themes of dedication run through Helsinki Songs, a set of tunes composed – for the most part – in the Finnish capital, and radiating tributes in many directions. Here are songs referencing Igor Stravinsky and Jimmy Webb, pieces dedicated to each of Seim’s gifted bandmates, and tunes that tip the hat, obliquely, to Ornette Coleman and Bill Evans. The quartet plays superbly throughout, with outstanding solos from leader Seim and pianist Kristjan Randalu.

Trygve Seim, saxophones
Kristjan Randalu, piano
Mats Eilertsen, double bass
Markku Ounaskari, drums