The Scandinavian project Arcanum brings together four artists all well-known to followers of directions in music at ECM: Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Anders Jormin and Markku Ounaskari.

They’ve played together in many permutations over the years, but this is their first album as a quartet. Compositions by Anders Jormin and Trygve Seim, the Finnish traditional “Armon Lapset” (Children of Mercy), and Jormin’s arrangement of Ornette Coleman’s “What Reason Could I Give” are slotted into a program of graceful collective improvisations distinguished by lyrical imagination, reflective soloing and sensitive group interaction.

Arcanum, recorded at Village Recording Studio, Copenhagen, and mixed in Munich in January 2025, was produced by Manfred Eicher.

1. Nokitpyrt [2:57]
2. Blib A [1:31]
3. Armon Lapset [3:47]
4. Folkesong [4:06]
5. Trofast [4:41]
6. Lost in Vanløse [5:16]
7. Old Dreams [3:48]
8. Koto [5:08]
9. Polvere Uno [3:37]
10. Pharao [4:32]
11. Morning Meditation [1:41]
12. Elegy [4:14]
13. What Reason Could I Give [1:35]
14. La Fontaine [2:47]
15. Shadow Trail [2:46]
16. Fata Morgana [2:28]

This masterfully sculpted new recording opens on what Jormin call “a respectful bow to Scandinavian role models” Nokitpyrt (which the title read backwards nearly gives you Triptykon, Jan Garbarek’s seminal 1972 recording with Arild Andersen and Edward Vesala) and then we get the haunting Blib A, the effervescent [traditional] Armon Lapset, the emotive Folkesong, with the ethereal Trofast, a gradual stoic build that results in Lost in Vanløse, the organic Old Dreams and a dutifully emboldened Koto being brought forth thereafter.

On what is an intensely enthralling new collection from Henriksen and company, along next is the quietly seductive, yet at times furtively-engrained Polvere Uno, an aching yearn that resonates within Pharao and the all-encompassing Morning Meditation, and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the forthright, yet gently-hued Elegy, a heartfelt rendition of the Ornette Coleman cut What Reason Could I Give, the tenderly inquisitive La Fontaine, the set rounding out on a melodical growth within Shadow Trail, closing on the forlorn, at times, yet inquisitively astute at others Fata Morgana.

Collectively improvised pieces on Arcanum reveal an uncommon feeling for form. Exploration here is always highly focused, the musicians keeping things concise and to the point.

The band takes its musical concept to the road this autumn with concerts including Krokus Jazz Festival, Poland (October 23), Jazz In Bess, Lugano, Switzerland (November 27), Paradox, Tilburg, Netherlands (November 28), Bimhuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands, (November 29), LantarenVenster, Rotterdam, Netherlands (November 30).

Recorded at Village Recording Studio, Copenhagen, and mixed in Munich in January 2025, the album was produced by Manfred Eicher.

Musicians:
Arve Henriksen - Trumpet
Trygve Seim - Saxophone
Anders Jormin - Double Bass
Markku Ounaskari - Drums, Percussion

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