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Polyphony 3

by Jasper Blom

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    High quality, 180 gram, 12" LP

    Includes unlimited streaming of Polyphony 3 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $28 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    High quality, 6 panel digifile with a velvety soft-touch laminate finish

    Includes unlimited streaming of Polyphony 3 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Comes with album artwork booklet PDF + album cover photo as a jpg
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

1.
Midding 10:56
2.
Zuri 06:15
3.
Jouska 04:08
4.
Lumen 06:24
5.
Chrysalism 05:17
6.
Insomnia 08:43
7.
Des Vu 08:39

about

PERSONNEL

Jasper Blom - tenor sax
Jesse van Ruller - guitar
Frans van der Hoeven - bass
Martijn Vink - drums
Pablo Held - piano/wurlitzer
Ben van Gelder - alto sax
Joris Roelofs - bass clarinet


ALBUM CREDITS

Recorded and Mixed by Joeri Saal, at Studio 150 (October 13, 2021)
Mastered by Zlaya LOUD!
Produced by Jasper Blom and Frans der Hoeven
Executive Producer - Michael Janisch
Photography by Anne Reinke
Album Artwork by Hugo Piper
Cover Design Concept Philip de Josselin de Jong and Anne Reinke

credits

released March 10, 2023

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Jasper Blom is one of the Netherlands’ most revered musicians and a leading figure on the contemporary jazz scene. He’s known as a versatile soloist, a forward-thinking composer and an expert leader, having fronted his long-time quartet of guitarist Jesse van Ruller, bassist Frans van der Hoeven and drummer Martijn Vink for over 20 years.

Together, they present Polyphony 3, the newest instalment of Blom’s Polyphony cycle, which follows the widely acclaimed 2019 Whirlwind release Polyphony. Cologne based pianist Pablo Held, joins the line-up as a guest throughout this record and saxophonist Ben van Gelder and bass clarinettist Joris Roelofs feature on one track.

Blom is known for his intelligent compositions which cover a wide range of stylistic influences and Polyphony 3 marks the latest chapter in his already esteemed career. “I like these long-term involvements,” says Blom, “because you allow something to develop. The quartet is a tight band and then because of that tightness, you can invite guests over, which highlights the polyphony from a different angle.” The album is inspired by the post-tonal tone-clock theory and Blom explains, “I actually took a couple of tone rows that inspired me melodically or harmonically and loosely based my writing on that particular hour.” The result is an absorbing and free-flowing album.

The record opens with ‘Midding’ (which is a word from John Koenig’s Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows and describes ‘the tranquil pleasure of being near a gathering, but not in it’).

“I'm really proud of this track,” says Blom, “because of COVID-19, we had to postpone the recording and concerts. So, we were able to grow into the music for a far longer period than otherwise.” ‘Zuri’ is an uplifting track with a medieval-influenced melody dedicated to Blom’s first granddaughter, featuring a particularly tender solo from Jesse van Ruller. ‘Jouska’ has a kinetic energy to it and is also named from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows – referring to a 'hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head'.

“‘Lumen’ is a Bartók-influenced ballad and a personal favorite of Held’s, who insisted on playing it every time we had a gig,” recalls Blom. Held’s technical skills are on show here, performed with a mellow touch. ‘Chrysalism’ is a busier tune featuring Held on Wurtlitzer. “As a composer,” says Blom, “I think your whole hard disk is full of musical ideas that somehow never materialize or become a real composition. I never throw anything away and ‘Insomnia’ is based on a musical idea that I found scrolling through my hard disk and thinking wow, how on earth could I've missed this?” The track features talented guests Ben van Gelder on alto saxophone and Joris Roelofs on bass clarinet. ‘Des Vu’ brings this polyphonic tome to a close, encompassing the winding spirit of the whole album.

Polyphony 3 is an album documenting the journey so far of an intriguing musician who has invested time and care to carve out his distinctive and inimitable voice alongside his trusted peers. The remarkable interplay and mutual respect felt between these fine musicians is palpable throughout this cohesive yet multi-layered and cerebral new work.

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The Whirlwind Artist Page for saxophonist and composer Jasper Blom.

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