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Ida Alanen Trio is one of the most prominent new groups in the Finnish jazz scene. The group is led by pianist-composer Ida Alanen, who has recently finished her master's studies at the
Conservatory of Amsterdam. The bass player, Jonathan Bäckström, and drummer, Benjamin Nylund, are versatile, composing musicians with unique voices and strong artistic identities. Together, they form one of the most sought-after rhythm sections in Helsinki, also known from the Jonathan Bäckström Quartet among others.
The trio’s repertoire is based on Alanen’s compositions, around which the group has worked closely together for the past couple of years. Her original composing style draws inspiration from
visual arts, organic textures, and dream imagery. The influence of a wide variety of music styles is evident in her style as a composer and improviser, including minimalism, modern classical
composers, and folk music, to name a few. As a pianist, Alanen has an exceptional sensitivity to melody and simplistic beauty, and her compositions are filled with colorful details and a rich
harmonic palette. The trio has seamless communication, alternating effortlessly between carefully orchestrated compositions and the freedom of improvisation.
The duality of the two worlds - the dreamworld and the realistic world, the conscious and the subconscious - remains the main theme of the trio’s debut album, Awake Asleep. Exploring the
borderland between sleep and wakefulness, it invites images from the subconscious into broad daylight. All the tunes on the album are either directly inspired by dreams, influenced by them, or
serve as mirrors to a dreamlike imaginary world. The album was released in October 2023 on the Norwegian label AMP Music & Records, also in Dolby Atmos surround sound format. This strong
debut was met with a positive response and immediate interest in both the Finnish and European jazz scenes.
“Awake Asleep” is a wonderful debut from the Ida Alanen Trio. Highly engaging, quietly intoxicating, and sumptuously imagined.
Highly recommended listening.”
- Mike Gates, UK Vibe, 9.12.2023
It is evident that these musicians will be at the forefront of our jazz scene in the future. Alanen creates her music with a modern
approach, being conscious of jazz piano traditions. She respects melodic expression and is very poetic.”
- Marita Nyrhinen, Kulttuuritoimituksen levykatsaus, 18.12.2023 (translated from Finnish)
"Under the fingers of Ida Alanen, all tones gain in delicacy and nobility. And so is the entire album. A great attention to the melody, which is always beautiful or fascinating, and to the details. One can hear the refinement of the entire musical material. All of this makes you want to listen to the album over and over again, which is the best proof of the level and quality of this release.”
- jazz.fun.de - Magazin für Jazz Musik (translated from German)
”The internationally acclaimed pianist Ida Alanen recruited bassist Jonathan Bäckström and drummer Benjamin Nylund to her band,
both of whom are enjoying good momentum in jazz circles. Together, the trio crafted a debut album brimming with harmonic
beauty.”
- Juha Seitz, Ilkka-Pohjalainen 11.12.2023 (translated from Finnish)
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