While I’m extremely proud to have finally released this album which I started working on back in 2016, it gets even better when reading all the nice things people write about it. During the last two weeks reviews have poured in from all over Europe and the U.S. Here are a few highlights:
⭐️ Best of Bandcamp, August 2024
“Maetrix is like witnessing a garden in full bloom while simultaneously being given a tour of every single petal. Through his arrangements, Espen Berg—commissioned here to write specifically for the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra—sets in motion some outstanding transitions between soloists and group interplay, especially in the way smaller components break off and reunite with the larger ensemble. It almost feels wrong to reference individual contributions on an album where everyone plays an essential part, but there are outstanding moments that spring from the vibraphone of Rob Waring, the tuba of Daniel Herskedal, and both voice and alto sax of Sissel Vera Pettersen. I cannot get enough of this recording.”
⭐️ Can this even be called music?, best of August 2024
⭐️ Radio-hoerer.de
“Espen Berg first caught my attention in a very positive way with his album ‘Water Fabric,’ and now his work ‘Maetrix,’ which he wrote for the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, has been released. It is astonishing how he managed to create music that is complex yet easy to listen to, never sounding merely pleasing, and masterfully tailored to the individual musicians of the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Always with the certainty that they will bring everything to life and make it soar. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve already listened to this work, and I keep discovering new things — in short, a dream!”
⭐️ CultureJazz OUI award
“For the past twenty years, this Norwegian ensemble has never failed to hit its mark, doing so with virtuosity, subtlety, and remarkable freshness. The music on this album unfolds between different worlds with striking originality. As the late John Kelman (real name David Binder, who passed away this summer) once said, it is ‘an orchestra of great scope, capable of handling anything presented to it.’ In short, buy it.”
⭐️ Jazznytt’s top pick
“The small hairs certainly stand on end during the ascent of the 21-minute opening track ‘Artemix + Cadae,’ where Berg truly achieves his goal of combining complex rhythmic concepts with heartfelt melodies. […] In the aforementioned title track, Berg brings together many of his compositional desires into a single expression, while the beautiful final piece, ‘Climbing,’ showcases lyrical power jazz in a way that we in this country do better than most. And with the heartfelt warmth of Hanna Paulsberg’s tenor on top, it must be concluded that matrix-maker Berg accomplished his mission brilliantly.”
⭐️ Aftenposten, rated 5/6
“And when our pianist takes the front stage, the windows open. Espen Berg has a lightness and charisma in his playing, a clarity that makes me believe in what he does. You can hear that he takes delight in his own skill. The long opening track, ‘Artemix + Cadae,’ contains sections and stretches with an inner life of very different character. What is masterful is how Berg and the band manage to forge these parts together without the music feeling fragmented. The large orchestra plays with a softness, flow, and elasticity on their side. […] ‘Maetrix’ beautifully joins a fine series of Norwegian releases featuring pianists leading strong groups. Jonas Cambien’s ‘Maca Conu,’ Kjetil Mulelid’s ‘Agoja,’ and Berg’s ‘Maetrix’ all elevate jazz to heights of quality experience.”
⭐️ Nettavisen, rated 6/6
“I am in no way retracting my claim that this is a work for eternity — it is, quite simply, world-class on so many levels. ‘Maetrix’ should be played worldwide for many, if there is any form of musical or other justice. In the meantime, this double LP is highly recommended — in case anyone had any doubt about it.”
⭐️ AllAboutJazz
“Berg’s multilayered suite navigates its complexity without fuss, made approachable by warm melodies and sumptuous harmonies”
⭐️ Jazzwise
“Well written, well executed, and melodically beyond reproach”
ESPEN BERG 