Christian Balvig, Frederik Bulow & Adrian Christensen - Associated with Water

The Norwegian trio of pianist Christian Balvig, bassist Adrian Christensen and drummer Frederik B�low, started as project band five years ago to explore jazz and improvisation - now they are ready with a debut album full of creative compositions, strong interplay and a unique band sound.

'Associated with Water' is an album made with a compositional approach that aims to float seemingly from jazz to classical to folk. It contains emotional impressionistic passages followed by groovy Balkan bass-lines, modern jazz themes and Chopin-like rubato islands.

The trio has a collective vision; to fuse three individual artists and composers. Christian Balvig on the piano currently remarks himself as a composer and arranger working with major Scandinavian orchestras such as Copenhagen Philharmonics and Det Norske Bl�sensemble. In this trio he gets the chance to truly shine as a pianist.

Frederik B�low on the drums is the anchor of the trio with the most energetic and interactive passages to the most intense silences. Adrian Christensen on the bass completes the band sound.

Personnel: Christian Balvig (piano), Adrian Christensen (bass), Frederik Bulow (drums)

FOUR STARS 'I have suggested in JJ that this might be a golden time for Nordic piano trio jazz...Balvig's lovely touch and unerring dynamic and rhythmic subtlety are complemented perfectly by Christensen and Bulow in an excellent consistently stimulating session.' --Michael Tucker, Jazz Journal