Jazz Views
The self-titled ECM debut from Norwegian saxophonist Mette Henriette is an impressive double disc offering. The saxophonist, comfortable with both freely improvised and composed realms mixes the two with an intoxicating ease over intriguing material. Over the course of 100 minutes, she devotes the first disc to a trio with just her tenor, pianist Johan Lindvall, and violoncellist Katrine Schiott, and a thirteen piece ensemble that makes up the bulk of disc two.
Henriette’s music on this album is about space. She waits for the opportune moment to add just the right note or coloration, and is a master of the range of her horn. “So” opens with a piano trill from Lindvall that almost seems like running water, while Henriette blows a stream of harmonics, alternating it with just the sound of breath. It is these very light atmospheric qualities that make the music the fascinating body of work that it is, many tracks are just brief snippets, like “The Taboo” and “We Were To”, and these vignettes are very effective at creating a sustained melancholic mood. These pieces contrasted with slightly longer pieces such as “.oOo.” and “3-4-5” carrying a reflective mood as Henriette’s tenor, Lindvall’s piano and Schiott’s violoncello strike the right combination of melodic and harmonic balance.
“So” and “Hi Dive” use connecting thematic material, returning the fragments to the mind of the listener. Like the Dutch saxophonist Marc Mommaas, Henriette sees her music as more than just notes, indeed, the sonic canvases she creates are like soundtracks, for a movies that do not yet exist. On disc two with the larger group, her writing for the ensemble blends strong structure with room for improvised blowing. “Passe” the opener of disc two, with its delicate threads from a string quartet, gentle rustling brushes from drummer Per Oddvar Johansen bring to mind a cloudy day with a gentle wind moving through swaying trees with Henriette’s equally delicate but passionate tenor saxophone musings up front. Elsewhere, the ensemble again takes the idea of repeating thematic phrases on “Unfold” and the closing “Better Yet Unheard” to bring a suite like continuity to the disc. “Wildheart” finds Henriette’s slightly Brotzmann-esque tenor adding to the fire of freely improvised collective interplay from the group, of which there are a few shining moments throughout the compelling program of written music.
“Mette Henriette” is a wonderful ECM debut from a saxophonist with a lot of potential to become one of the label’s most known names. Her melodic sense and command of her instrument make for a thoroughly engaging ride through the brief vignettes and longer pieces, that illustrate many different musical directions, it will be exciting to see where she heads next.
Rating: 9.0/10
— CJ Shearn