Alex Ventling: ‘Wavemakers’

Out on 11 December is ‘Wavemakers’, a new quartet album from Swiss-New Zealand pianist, composer and filmmaker Alex Ventling. Chamber jazz with the Nordic touches that come from global musical and personal influences, this album is truly mesmerising and subtle.

Ventling’s compositions begin with Tracking that seems to establish the textures of this quartet alongside his own piano. There is something brilliant about modern jazz violin, handled so brilliantly by Tuva Halse, before the album moves to Omaha, featuring vocals of Sissel Vera Pettersen.

Every track on Wavemakers flows beautifully to the next - I’ve always been a great believer in listening to albums as they are constructed by the artist. Ventling (piano and synth) has put together a stunning quartet, including Tuva Halse (violin), Amund Stenøien (vibraphone) and August Glännestrand (drums). Guest vocals from Sissel Vera Pettersen on Omaha add a new layer that is both lyrical and intensely melodic.

These five musicians capture a moment in musical time across the nine tracks, with a genuine sense of flow.

Once we reach Trondheim I and Trondheim II and then the briefest of detours to Traces before Trondheim III, we are on course through an exploration of the importance of the city in Ventling’s own life and the birth of the quartet.

If you have the chance to listen to the album, I can promise you will discover (or rediscover) the beauty of vibes and violin as a combination above piano/synth and drums. Equally captivating are the live performance videos for Four Refractions and Omaha (with violin in place of vocals).

You will be able to experience Wavemakers live following the release of the album, with dates currently released in Norway, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.