Prayers & Observations 2006
“Prayers & Observations” (Jazzland 2006) is the second album by jazz composer and vocalist Torun Eriksen. In ten new songs written by Eriksen, she is once again joined by Kjetil Dalland (bass), Torstein Lofthus (drums), David Wallumrød (keyboards) and Frøydis Grorud (saxophone and flute), with the addition of Ole Jørn Myklebust (trumpet, Flugelhorn) and André Berg (guitar), as well as strings. As her first release “Glittercard” (Jazzland 2003) was produced by Bugge Wesseltoft, he again applies his trademark production to this album.
The album has a sense of experimentation yet is presented in a clearly focused direction. “Prayers & Observations” is a search for Eriksen’s own personalized expression. She states: “Each song is (about)a story. My musical goal is to be a strong songwriter and an interpreter of interest. This album is about creating great songs that are good to have around.” Clearly we can hear the focus on songwriting in this new album, together with a sense of variation, which combines into something quite special, citing one reviewer to write, “The voice of the year in jazz.” (Dagsavisen).
“The arrangements are more sophisticated, and we took much more time to consider all the finer details of the recording than we did previously,” says Eriksen. Many of the songs were written during her first pregnancy and after the process of birthing, all important influences on the lyrics. “The lyrics reflect this extra dimension in my life.”
”Shining” and ”An extraordinary vocal talent” are just some of the superlatives that Norwegian music critics have used to described the amber-voiced talent of Torun Eriksen’s first release. Her debut album ”Glittercard” garnered considerable accolades from the Norwegian press, and opened the door to the international performance stage. In the past two years she has extensively toured Europe and performed at the major festivals. “It’s been a fantastic experience performing for an international audience. Getting the feedback from different audiences in different countries has given me a new understanding, because each country tends to reacts slightly different. It’s given me a deeper understanding of my own music, and I feel privileged to experience this.”
Torun Eriksen began her musical talents as a music student in High School in Norway. Beginning at the age of six, she sang in various gospel choirs, and by the age of 19 became a featured soloist. A background steeped in soul, jazz and pop, it was through her choral experience that she began writing her first compositions, influenced by the world of jazz standards via the Real Book. After moving to Oslo in 1997, she enrolled into the Norwegian Institute for Stage and Studio (NISS). It was there she met other musicians and formed the band Licorice, primarily a cover band.
She also recorded with other bands, such as Palace of Pleasure on their ”Popoganda” (1999) album and as a guest vocalist on Mulens Portland Combo’s ”Mulens Femte” (2001), and with Knut Halmrast’s ”Little Pillow” (2003). With Mulens Portland Combo she also performed at festivals, the Salvation Army’s charity Christmas concert, and in various national television programs in Norway.
With the band Chipahua, she filled Sissel Endresen’s place as vocalist from 2002 to 2003, and appearing at various prestigious jazz festivals such as the Molde International Jazz Festival and Bergen Nattjazz. Sissel Endresen has been an integral source of guidance and support for Torun.
She is a favored vocalist for use on many other artist’s recordings, and it came as no surprise that her release concert for “Glittercard” at the club Blå was sold out. ”Torun Eriksen brings us a debut which in amazingly short time has established her as a force to be reckoned with”, wrote the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.
”Norway gives birth to yet another exceptional vocal talent in jazz” wrote VG about her. PULS wrote, ”…her music is without exception melodic and beautiful”, and that Torun “most certainly has the potential for international success.” Indeed, 2003’s release of “Glittercard” dazzled listeners with Torun’s dark amber-like voice, sensual and with a hint of huskiness, and most certainly an enticing musicality.
Returning with “Prayers & Observations”, Torun Eriksen again further strengthens her stance as one of the most interesting singers to have emerged from Scandinavia in recent years.
In ten lyrically contemplative songs, with an extended palette of influences and styles, Torun Eriksen opens her world of observations to us. “Song of Sadness” is dedicated to the deceased saxophonist Sigurd Køhn, written during Christmas of 2004, and features a duet with Paal Flaata (Midnight Choir). With country music flavorings, the song is a lament to a friend and fellow musician who lost his life to the tsunami in Thailand. It is an example of the musical influence added, but never overstepping Eriksen’s clearly established musical universe.
In widening the boundaries of vocal-based jazz, Torun Eriksen is now even more firmly geared towards an international audience. An album of nuances and colors, of shadings and understatement, we become privileged to join her prayers and observations.