Katrine Madsen/ Supernatural Love

The title of vocalist Katrine Madsen’s new CD is a precise and mild expression of what the listener will encounter once the disc is spinning in the player and the sound materializes in the room.
This music affects the listener and his surroundings. It generates a warm, intimate atmosphere, full scents and darkly tinted hues. The sound of relaxed jazz. The dark timbre of Katrine Madsen’s crisp alto, and the presence of a vocalist at one with herself. You will find nothing forced, no dramatic exaggerations. Only an earnest musical voice in an exceptionally luxuriant musical setting.

CLOSE TO YOU is Katrine Madsen’s sixth release. From the very start of her career, she has revealed a well-developed sense of style and an inherent ability to capture the musical space and lead the listener into her vocal stories. Often in intimate love ballads and pensive songs, where we find some of the key words in life. Also presents songs of this persuasion – more mature and perfect than ever. Interpretations of classic ballads like Burt Bacharach’s ‘The Look of Love’, Lennon/McCartney’s ‘And I Love Her’, Ellington’s ‘In A Sentimental Mood’ and Noble’s ‘The Very Thought Of You’ – to mention but a few of the album’s eleven tracks. Three are written by Madsen herself.

The band accompanying her consists of the cr?me de la cr?me of Danish/Swedish jazz topped with one of Europe’s greatest piano talents. The Danish-Italian piano trio of Jesper Bodilsen (bass), Morten Lund (drums) and the incredible Stefano Bollani (piano) makes up the basis of her backing. 2002 Jazzpar award winner Enrico Rava brought them together the first time for the award concerts at which he presented Bollani’s exuberant musical talents to a flabbergasted Danish audience. The chemistry in the rhythm section was so outstanding, that they felt compelled to continue their collaboration - documented on the outstanding trio release MI RITORNI IN MENTE (Stunt 2003), and now in their wonderful accompaniment to Katrine Madsen. The music is lifted to even greater heights by Hans Ulrik’s beautiful solos on saxophone, flute and harmonica and Swedish M?rten Lundgren’s contributions on trumpet.

CLOSE TO YOU is a tasteful and integrated collection of songs interpreted with great respect, intimacy and mutual understanding between the musicians. Sometimes music expresses more than words. It gets under our skin, casts a spell on us. Opens the mind’s door to moods and emotions that we all have in common. As Katrine Madsen sings,
”The look of love is saying so much more than words could ever say”

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Henrik Gunde : Piano

Being a native of Esbjerg ( Denmark ), Henrik graduated from Vestjysk Music Conservatory as a jazzpianist. Henrik has since then established himself as one of the hottest new names on the Danish jazz scene and now he's the one of the most frequently used jazzpianists in the country. Henrik is now playing with the Danish Radio Big Band and has been accompanying artists like Tom Harrell, Billy Cobham, Jimmy Heath, Lisa Nillson, Fredrik Lundid. And also in Tivoli Big Band and can be heard on a stings of new Danish jazz recordings.

Henrik has formed his own trio in 1994 with specializing in capturing the extrovert style of the legendary pianist Erroll Garner, focusing on the quite unique “Swing” that characterizes Garner's fantastic trios from the mid-forties till the mid-seventies. His album “Gunde on Garner” with such a beautiful sound and memorable artwork scheduled to be released soon. Fortunately, audiences will hear his songs from the latest album as a part of Katrine Madsen Group in late June 2007.

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Jesper Bodilsen : Bass

Jesper Bodilsen, bassist, composer & producer. b. 1970 has among others played/ recorded with Joe Lovano, Ed Thigpen, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Lee Konitz, Marc Turner, Gino Vanelli, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Joey Calderazzo, Dino Saluzzi, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Michael Learns To Rock, James Moody, Horace Parlan, Duke Jordan, John Abercrombie, Enrico Rava, Paul Vertigo, Aldo Romano, Stefano di Batista, Paulo Fresu & George Colligan.

Co-bandleader in the trio Stefano Bollani-Jesper Bodilsen-Morten Lund and Bandleader of Scandinavian Summit with Tore Brunborg - sax, Lars Jansson - pia, Severi Pyysalo - vibes & Morten Lund - drums.

Member of the Ed Thigpen Trio, Ed Thigpen Scantet, Katrine Madsen Group, Jacob Christoffersen Trio, Kasper Villaume Trio and Jonas Johansen MOVE..

Produced and recorded several albums. Won the prize “Album Of The Year 1998” with the Ed Thigpen Rhythm Features album “It?s Entertainment”. Won the “Danish Music Award 2000” for best jazz album with the Kasper Villaume Quartet album “Outrun”. Concerts in China, Australia, Canada, USA, Korea, South Africa, Japan, Vietnam, Russia, Great Britain, Hungary, Singapore, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, Iceland, France, Belgium, Lithuania, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Awarded the Memorial Bursary Of Edward Eriksen and became honorary member of the Philippine Musician?s Union in 2000.

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Jonas Johansen Biography : Drums

Drummer Jonas Johansen (b. 1962 in Copenhagen, Denmark) ranks among the finest talents in European jazz drumming.

Jonas grew up in the creative milieu of a private school in Elsinore (DK), and studied with classical percussion professor Bent Lylloff from 1976 until 1979. He became a student of the Copenhagen based American drummer Ed Thigpen from 1979 until 1985. From 1985 until 1986 he completed the Percussion program at The Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, studying with drummers and percussionists such as Peter Donald, David Garibaldi and Luis Conte. From 1987 until 1989 he studied at The Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen.

From 1981 until 1986 Jonas played with different funk, soul, rock, latin and fusion groups based in Denmark. He joined the Copenhagen-based Turkish group "Istanbul Express" and also started playing with the best Brazilian musicians living in Denmark. From 1987 he became one of the most sought-after young jazz drummers in Denmark

In 1990 Jonas became the drummer of The Danish Radio Big Band, now called DR Big Band, where he stayed until 1999. In those years the band accompanied and did projects with international jazz stars such as McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, John Scofield, Tom Harrell, Bob Brookmeyer, Toots Thielemanns, Art Farmer, Hermeto Pascoal, Enrico Pieranunzi, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Jerry Bergonzi, Jim McNeely, Mike Gibbs, Maria Schneider, David Sanborn and Carla Bley. In 1999 he left the DRBB in order to concentrate on his freelance career.

In 1992 Jonas formed his own band "Move" with, among others, saxophonist Fredrik Lundin. The second CD from this band "Please Move" was nominated for a Danish Grammy in 2000 in the category "Jazz recording of the year". The latest CD (and LP) with the group “Move Up!” was released in November 2004. In 2002 Jonas formed a trio along with world famous electric bass player Steve Swallow and Danish saxophone master Hans Ulrik. Their first release “Trio” came out in 2003, and the second CD “Tin Pan Aliens” was released in 2005.

In 1993 Jonas started working with world-renowned Danish bassist Niels Henning Oersted Pedersen, and was a permanent member of the NHOP trio together with Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius from 1996 until NHOP’s death in April 2005.

In January 2006 Jonas went to Havana, Cuba to record an album with a new group with Eliel Lazo, Yasser Morej?n, Jakob Dinesen and Tony Rodriguez, to be released later in 2006.

Jonas has also played with artists and groups such as: Chano Dominguez, Kenny Drew, Eliane Elias, Egberto Gismonti, Johnny Griffin, Toninho Horta, Milt Jackson, Marc Johnson, Airto Moreira, Doug Raney, Renee Rosnes, John Taylor, Phil Woods, Monica Zetterlund, Pierre Doerge & New Jungle Orchestra, HR Big Band (Frankfurt, Germany), Nogenja Big Band (Stockholm, Sweden), the WDR Big Band (Cologne, Germany) and Ernie Wilkins and the Almost Big Band.

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