Daniel Herskedal

Here he comes again, Daniel Herskedal — the tuba player who conjures worlds, builds bridges, and masters the art of rarefaction and narrative suspension. Bass tuba player, to be precise — here on "Movements Of Air" joined by Eyolf Dale on piano and keyboards, and Helge Norbakken on drums. A fully Norwegian trio, yet one that ventures far and wide, perhaps even more than usual for an artist who has made sonic migration and musical encounters the hallmark of his creative identity.
"Movements Of Air" is an album that strikes one of the most balanced chords in Herskedal’s recent output, blending his reflective tendencies with a more cinematic flair, rooted in rhythmic and harmonic explorations — often veering into Middle Eastern terrains, rugged but richly evocative.

The album opens with “The Olive Branch”: a subdued, introspective piece, led by a melodic line with an almost Einaudi-like immediacy. Piano brightens and darkens in waves, while Herskedal’s tuba rises and curls over it like a storytelling voice that resonates more than it speaks. Even more lyrical is “Who Are You”, where piano ripples shape new spaces that the tuba carefully tiptoes through.
On the more percussive end, “Mountain Of Companions” climbs harmonic ridges that wouldn’t be out of place in a Tigran Hamasyan record: intricate but never cerebral, it plays with asymmetry and rhythmic momentum, revealing a sense of energy held just beneath the skin. The long-form “The White Flag” successfully bridges the two moods of the album: from Dale’s arpeggios and Norbakken’s off-kilter pulses, a tense, restless pace slowly emerges. It never bursts into full sprint — instead, it sustains itself as a silent swell that, through release rather than catharsis, dissolves right before the breaking point.

At 43, with over 15 albums as leader and collaborator, Herskedal remains one of the most intimate and distinctive voices in contemporary European jazz. For those already familiar with his work, this record is no surprise — just another testament to his consistency and depth. For those meeting him for the first time, it’s the perfect place to start.

(English version created with AI-assisted translation)

14/05/2025