PRESS:
Dunkel, bedrohlich und außerordentlich hartnäckig: Wer von den „Schatten der Vergangenheit“ spricht, erzählt danach meistens keinen Witz. Deswegen irritiert es schon, wenn der Klarinettist Michael Thieke, der Pianist Havard Wiik und der Kontrabassist Antonio Borghini ihr Trio „Der Lange Schatten“ nennen, zumal ihrer Musik eine gewisse Heiterkeit durchaus nicht fremd ist. Aus den langen Schatten der Vergangenheit abstrahieren sie konkrete Klänge von heute, spielen weite stilistische Bögen und kultivieren eine Klangästhetik von eigenwilliger Raffinesse.
Julia Neupert, SWR (Germany)
The Berlin trio of Hâvard Wiik (piano), Michael Thieke (clarinet) and Antonio Borghini (bass) achieve a unity of hearing and empathy that is the much-sought goal of improvisers everywhere. The Jimmy Guiffre Trio is a precursor to the current trio, which worthily extends its freedom-loving approach to improvisation. From the eerie chordal figure that opens "Müll," Der lange Schatten (the long Shadow) develop their trialogue with exquisite sensitivity and a strong sense of compositional structure. Figures are stated, explored and transformed, sometimes slowly and patiently, sometimes at lightning speed.
Densities are one of the trio's specialties. From a single voice to a duo counterpoint to a trio mash-up, the thickness of sound changes, evolves — magical metamorphosis. "Cynthia is Mistakenly Crowned King of Norway" starts with a jaunty two-part melody. Motifs, two-note patterns and rhythmic phrases are passed around, worried, extrapolated from and then superceded by new materials with playful intensity. Wiik's harmonies and figurations are part jazz, part new music. Borghini's rich tone and percussive support obviate the need for drums. Thieke's fleet, breathy clarinet is a model of directed expressiveness. From restrained to exuberant, Der lange Schatten's music is never less than brightly creative.
Glen Hall, EXCLAIM (Canada)
The Shadow: It is so long since I heard you speak that I should like to give you an opportunity of talking.
The Wanderer: I hear somebody talking—where? who?
The Shadow: The reverse projection of an object blocking the light. The mirror image of the soul. The doppelganger. But on the south side, there is a piece of sky, sadly blue. Welcome at the shadow hotel Garmisch!
The Wanderer: Be serious, dear fool!
The Shadow: But shadows are more shy than men.
The Wanderer: By God and everything else in which I disbelieve, it is my shadow that speaks. I hear it, but I do not believe it.
The Shadow: Let us assume that it exists, and think no more about it. In another hour all will be over
credits
released June 28, 2014
DER LANGE SCHATTEN
Håvard Wiik piano
Michael Thieke clarinet
Antonio Borghini bass
recorded at bau4/Switzerland in january 2012
mastered by Werner Dafeldecker in may 2014
cover design by Danny Gretscher
track 3,4,7 by Håvard Wiik, track 1 by Michael Thieke and track 2,5,6 by Antonio Borghini
special thanks to Hildegard and Walter Schaer
The trio, established in summer 2009 and based in Berlin, is a collective project exploring improvisation through original
compositions brought by each of the musicians involved.
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