selected performances
on youtube:
Drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist Alexander Claffy join rising-star Danish pianist Rasmus Sørensen for the release of a special trio project – Balancing Act – recorded in true jazz spirit in the heart of New York City.
Timeless repertoire and intricate originals combine in a piano trio session which captures the tradition of years gone by: three players meeting in a studio to produce music which somehow sounds as if they spent a lifetime together.
Sørensen relocated to New York City in 2018 to pursue his studies at the Manhattan School of Music on a full-tuition scholarship and within five years had proved himself as a compelling creative force, playing alongside some of the scene’s most reputable musicians and performing his original compositions in some of the world’s most revered jazz clubs.
In line with New York’s fast paced spirit, the session with Claffy and Scott was set up, planned and recorded within a matter of days, with the musicians meeting on the day and spending just three hours together in the studio.
It’s something of a rite of passage for pianists to showcase their treatment of classic jazz repertoire; Sørensen choses a selection of Great American Songbook classics and a lesser-known Coltrane number for this, his sophomore album. Alongside a handful of originals, the recording with two veterans of New York’s prestigious scene is a masterclass in energetic, spontaneous, playful and exciting piano trio playing.
Effortless groove, rich contemporary harmony, virtuosic improvisations, dextrous rhythmic complexity and intricate arrangements make for an adventurous and thrilling listen; the first meeting of three fearless and experienced masters of their craft.
Jazz is no stranger to the concept of passing the baton from one generation to the next, not through loud exclamations and accolades, but by who the greats choose to work with. With Balancing Act, Sørensen has not only produced a beautiful trio album, but staked his claim – with the help of Scott and Claffy – as one of the ones-to-watch from the new generation of pianists.
CD's and vinyls available at https://rasmussorensen.bandcamp.com/
Balancing Act
Traits
April Records announce the signing of rising-star Danish pianist Rasmus Sørensen with not just a new release (“Balancing Act”) but the first LP and CD outing for his acclaimed 2022 debut Traits.
Recorded back home in Denmark, Sørensen’s powerful debut, inspired by the scenery, feelings and momentum of his time in New York, where he graduated on a full-scholarship from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music.
Released somewhat quietly on digital services in June 2022, it nonetheless led to an enthusiastic press response and a fifteen date European tour, marking Sørensen out as ‘one to watch’ on the burgeoning international jazz scene.
Recorded in rural Denmark with Jon Henriksson (double bass) and Francesco Ciniglio (drums) the record is rooted in tradition with a vivacious forward-thinking sense of modernity.
Equally footed in the American and European contemporary idioms, harmonically dense passages of solo piano, playful up-tempo swing, and intricate rhythmic phrasing are among the ingredients employed by the ensemble to offer up their perspective on the trio format.
Featuring a selection of Sørensen’s original pieces, the pianist’s voice and skill as both a composer and instrumentalist feels informed, accomplished and meticulously crafted; more likely belonging to someone with a careers-worth of experience to draw on, than a debut.
With two records out with barely a quarter of the year done, 2024 seems set to bring Rasmus Sørensen’s highly individual piano touch to a much wider audience.
CD's and Vinyls available for purchase here
other discography
Aloft Quartet - Farewell Old Ways (2020)
Aloft Quartet - Heart Rate (2021)
Aloft Quartet - First Year (2018)
Casper Hejlesen: Overture (2020)
Amund Kleppan: Venture (2019)
Jon Henriksson: Harmonia (2023)