Drifting

Mette Henriette

Released on 20/01/23 by ECM Records
Main artists: Mette Henriette
Genre: Jazz

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Eight years after her double-length self-titled ECM debut, the Norwegian Sami tenor saxophonist Mette Henriette Martedatter Rølvåg has returned with an album of brief musical haikus, introductions and unfinished thoughts—shadowy free jazz/contemporary music meant to provoke endings to her short moody statements. While half of her debut featured a big band, Henriette is now joined only by a pair of players, both of whom are leaders in their own right: pianist Johan Lindvall (who appeared on that first album) and versatile Australian cellist Judith Hamann.

Deliberately but wonderfully mystical and minimal with much unfilled space and enigmatic phrasing, Drifting's longest track (out of 15) is only four minutes long; most are much shorter. This brevity makes her musical text messages easy to consider yet no less perplexing. The album opens with a mournful 42-second melodic snatch, "The 7th," followed by "Across the floor," which evokes pathos before abruptly ending with her playing skittering across the highest range of her instrument.

Henriette begins the title track in her instrument's low register before ranging into higher, more optimistic flourishes. A jagged dialogue with Hamann ensues, with both players harmonizing, playing together and apart as Lindvall rhythmically chords behind. In "0°" Henriette can be heard, via this collection's exacting, precise recording quality, breathing in and out through her horn without making any identifiable sound. Full-bodied playing and more robust contributions from her trio mates come in "Rue du Renard," but at less than three minutes, this again, doesn’t sound like the whole story. These surprising miniatures make it clear that the fearless Henriette has much to say musically, but prefers inklings and motion to ideal conclusion. © Robert Baird/Qobuz

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Drifting

Mette Henriette

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The 7th