Thomas Torstrup is a jazz pianist and organist from Stavanger. In 2014, he debuted with the poetic album "Snøkorn", together with Hanna Paulsberg (sax), Trygve...

Thomas Torstrup is a jazz pianist and organist from Stavanger. In 2014, he debuted with the poetic album "Snøkorn", together with Hanna Paulsberg (sax), Trygve Fiske and Tore Sandbakken . He has also worked on exciting, cross-genre organ projects with John Pål Inderberg, Martin Högberg and Heidi Skjerve, resulting in the albums "Still" (2017) and "Selbu Sessions" (2018). In recent years, Torstrup has composed new material for jazz quartet. The songs on Two Brothers were recorded in New Tone Studio in Oslo in August 2019. The music can be characterized as melodic jazz with an original touch and a wide palette of stylistic references. The sources of inspiration range from American jazz tradition to sacred music and Olivier Messiaen's universe. Thomas also find inspiration from sounds in nature as raindrops and wind, and the sound of children trying instruments for the first time!

REVIEW:

Two Brothers reflects pianist and organist Thomas Torstrup’s idea that inspiration can come from any avenue in life. The first track, Transcribed Raindrops, was written in a church in the Norwegian mountains; the music slowly coalesces into a superb piano solo by Torstrup himself.

As simple an act as mountain hiking can inspire Torstrup; the bass solos here from Andersen are magnificent, while Torstrup’s rhythmic shiftings in his solos are captivating. Inspired by solar winds at the end of a short summer.

How fascinating it is to hear the influence of Olivier Messiaen in Modes; and also to hear how those characteristic sounds can morph into something truly of jazz (and lead, in turn, to a fabulous bass break). 

Another inspiration for Torstrup was Jimmy Giuffre’s 1947 jazz standard Four Brothers. Immediately Torstrup’s proclivity for deconstruction is evident: Two lines, one trumpet, one single-line piano, provide a skeletal basis that leads to a simple but effective piano solo. It’s interesting how Woody Herman and Giuffre’s own takes are so different, and Torstrup’s piece creates yet another soundscape.

The recording is superb. There is plenty of presence, and the instruments are nicely placed in the sound perspective. This is a superb disc, its music delivered by four massive jazz talents from Norway.

-- Fanfare (Colin Clarke)