Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio is a Trondheim-based young and promising trio founded by Norwegian pianist-synth player-composer Sondre Moshagen (b. 2001, who also plays in the Peter Wallem Anundsen Consonances Octet and the Polish-Norwegian quartet PESH) and featuring his colleagues from NTNU’s jazz program – Estonian double bass player Kertu Aer (b. 1997) and fellow Norwegian drummer Steinar Heide Bø (b. 2000, who plays in Amund Stenøien Quartet, Brede Sørum Quartet). The trio won the «Årets unge jazzmusikere 2024» (Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024), which led to a tour at a lot of Norwegian festivals and a tailored mentor program.

Lightning is the debut album of the trio, produced by British, Berlin-based pianist-keyboard player Kit Downes, who plays on the last short piece, and was recorded at Øra Studio in Trondheim. Latvian flutist Ketija Ringa Karahona plays in three pieces.

Lightning Trio sounds like a mature, working band that has established a strong affinity and its own identity, which refuses to be associated with the clichés about Nordic jazz. Its dynamics are focused and propulsive, highlighting texture and timbre, elegant interplay, and powerful solo sections. Moshagen’s urgent jazz compositions are ornamented with his synth playing, which introduces a subtle pop sensibility. This trio knows how to tell a compelling, nuanced, and dramatic story with its music, as pieces like «McQueen’s Disco», «Wandering Towards The Light», «Pärnu», and «Astraphobia» demonstrate.

Looking forward to the upcoming sonic adventures of this fine trio.

Eyal Hareuveni

Sondre Moshagen (piano, synthesizer), Kertu Aer (double bass), Steinar Heide Bø (drums), Kit Downes (Rhodes), Ketija Ringa Karahona (flute)