Young Danish drummer Daniel Sommer comes from a musical family based in Aarhus. He has completed recently his master’s degree in music from the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus and The Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and already played and recorded with local jazz outfits – guitarist Jens Fisker’s trio, pianists Nikolaj Hess and Simon Eskildsen and the quartet Ornithopter.
These projects highlighted Sommer role as an attentive, somehow reserved side-man, who is well-versed in Nordic jazz legacy. Sommer debut solo album, «Duets» – released on his own newly founded label as limited-edition of 150 vinyls plus download option on Bandcamp – suggests a whole together different side of Sommer. On this project Sommer stresses his qualities as an imaginative free improviser with a personal voice and language of his own.
«Duets» matches sommer with nine different musicians, each with his own distinct vision and strategy when it comes to free-improvisation. Sommer colors Finnish pianist Artturi Rönkä Sommer melodic, lyrical ideas and his minimalist brush work intensifies the tensed duet with Danish double bass player Frederik Sakham Lomborg. Finnish sax player Mikko Innanen sketches with Sommer an evocative, emotional story and the duet with fellow-Finnish pianist Seppo Kantonen suggests a dense, confrontational mode. Catalan sax player Cesar Joaniquet takes Sommer to a colorful tour in exotic terrains and French guitarist Marc Ducret pushes Sommer to his most immediate, intensive yet playful improvisational mode. Finnish pianist Kari Ikonen and Sommer offer an enigmatic, dramatic texture and the duet with fellow-Finnish sax player Johannes Sarjasto explores and searches for new, challenging sonic possibilities. The last, longest duet is with American, Denmark-based pianist Butch Lacy. Lacy and Sommer weave a slow-cooking story, patiently developed with many shades, nuances and shifting dynamics.
Eyal Hareuveni
Daniel Sommer (dr), Artturi Rönkä (p), Frederik Sakham Lomborg (b), Mikko Innanen (s), Seppo Kantonen (p, elec), Cesar Joaniquet (s, v), Marc Ducret (g), Kari Ikonen (p), Johannes Sarjasto (s), Butch Lacy (p)
