Helge Lien Trio and Tore Brunborg

Exclusive collaboration between Helge Lien on piano, Johannes Eick on bass, and Knut Aalefjær on drums, featuring saxophonist Tore Brunborg.

"Funeral Dance" is a tribute to the renowned Ukrainian pianist Mikhail "Misha" Alperin. He was Helge Lien's teacher and mentor for many years, contributing to shaping the award-winning sound of the Helge Lien Trio. When the creative energy of the trio meets Tore Brunborg's remarkable ability to convey intimacy and depth through the saxophone, a new dimension is created. This collaboration was celebrated with the album "Funeral Dance," released on September 1, 2023.

There are two major traditions in the piano trio: the American and the Scandinavian. The former is expansive, ornamental, and melodic, impressing with its technical virtuosity, rich formal expression, broad range of influences and inspirations, and its connection to modern life. The latter is introspective, minimal, and rhythmic, excelling with its hypnotic qualities, concentration, maintained limitations, depth of moods and atmospheres, and its roots in tradition.

Helge Lien grew up between these two traditions. Building bridges between different cultures and working with contrasts has always been at the core of his approach. The Helge Lien Trio has established itself as one of Norway's foremost jazz ensembles, boasting millions of streams. With Helge Lien on piano, Johannes Eick on bass, and Knut Aalefjær on drums, they deliver moving melodies, playful improvisations, and vigilant interplay.