Ingi Bjarni – Hope
Ingi Bjarni – Anders Jormin – Hilmar Jensson – Magnús Trygvason Eliassen
Stream the album — Bandcamp for CD and download — Free sheet music
Liner notes / backstory
As I sat down to write these liner notes, I looked at the song list of the album. I noticed that seven out of the nine pieces were written in 2021, the year my mother passed away. After some reflection, I realized that these pieces are, in one way or another, connected to the process of grieving my mother. This was not something I intentionally planned when selecting compositions for this project, or even when I was composing the pieces. I was just focused on the music, not necessarily on how it came about. So this realization is a bit special to me. Recently, I have indeed noticed that my subconscious plays a big role in my life. In my music making I let my intuition lead the way.
My mother was quite poetic and often published parts of her unreleased poems on social media. In one of her poems, she wrote (translated from Icelandic to English): “Is life always a gentle waltz, with a clear path and no troubles ahead? The winter of life may indeed be long and hard. But my dear friend, you can do better. With hope in your heart, you are capable of everything.” It is my wish to express a feeling of hope with this music—hope for peace, hope for closure, and hope for happiness. So Hope is the most appropriate title for the album.
The album starts with the spacious title track, Hope, with a beautiful bass intro by Anders Jormin, where he hints at the bass melody of the song. Uplift is also a song connected to the theme of hope, an uplifting tune that changes between the meters of 11/8 and 6/4 with a strong, yet subtle, melody inspired by folk music. The third piece, the highly lyrical Chant, starts with an improvised piano intro. Then the singable melody starts. This is truly a piece that could be sung, even without lyrics. Singing has a healing power so perhaps this is a chant for healing.
Eftir allt was written during an artist’s residency at the historic Hólar Cathedral in Iceland in the summer of 2021. The title translates to “after everything.” This is the only song I have written inside a church, which seems fitting for this album since my mother was very religious. The slow dance, Hægur dans, is written with a specific drum beat in mind for Magnús Trygvason Eliassen to explore. But later, the beat goes astray, and collective improvisations take over. Once, I improvised a piano piece daily for a whole month and shared on YouTube. April Dreams is a dreamy blues from one of these improvisations. It has a peculiar melody based on intervals. The song features great soloing by both Hilmar Jensson and Anders Jormin.
Life continues even though there are bumps along the way. Continuation explores sweet folk music melodies but spices them up with expressive free improvisation. Desember is a song written in December, but it is definitely not a Christmas song! Desember symbolizes the end of the year and is about accepting how things are. To leave things on a slightly more energetic note, the album ends with Escaped. I chose that name because one morning I felt an overwhelming urge to create, as if the music needed to escape from within me.
Ingi Bjarni Skúlason, September 2024
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Press highlights
All About Jazz (USA)
“Hope is not simply an album; it is a quiet triumph, a testament to art’s enduring power to transform pain into something truly luminous. Each note feels deliberately placed, building a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. It invites you to lean in, to listen closely, and to find your reflections within its beautiful depths.”
Jazz Journal (UK):
“Not from ECM but very much in Eicher’s house style, this outstanding set by Icelandic pianist Ingi Bjarni Skúlason also succeeds in avoiding pejorative stereotypes”
Audophile.no (NO):
“And then, through the subdued, somewhat melancholic, and highly melodic Chant, I am reminded that it is in this particular mood that I appreciate this wonderful release the most.”
JazzThing (DE):
“Ingi Bjarni demonstrates his talent as an experienced arranger by giving each instrument dedicated space for free expression. His own piano playing, characterized by minimalism and brief solo elements, forms the album’s unifying thread. With Hope, Ingi Bjarni succeeds in creating a work that resonates long after listening through its subtle elegance and harmonious interplay.”
Jazz-fun.de / Jacek Brun (DE):
“This is a prime example of contemporary improvised jazz, built on interestingly defined themes, harmonic structures, and exciting arrangements. The instrumentalists who create this music enrich it with wonderful improvisational ideas – each of them has space for long and captivating solo parts. An album that is definitely worth listening to!”
Textura (CA):
“Every one of the nine settings boasts a strong and clearly defined melodic armature but is designed flexibly to allow the music to collectively breathe through the four players. Attentive listening between them enables the performances to blossom in real-time, with improvisations when they arise sounding focused rather than directionless”
Lira (SE):
“Here is an interesting and talented pianist with a natural ability to create and blend their expression into a poetic soundscape.”
Nettavisen (NO):
“Ingi Bjarni has found the perfect companions for his musical journey. They have thoroughly understood his intentions and beautifully complemented his compositions. Ingi Bjarni emerges as an increasingly mature composer and pianist.”
Dragon Jazz (BE):
“With each album, Ingi Bjarni reinvents himself through subtlety and continues to captivate”
Verhoovens Jazz (DE): “an outstanding pianist composes melodies that stick and brings an excellent drummer, bassist and guitarist to the set, together they create an atmospheric album – with the best recommendations.”