Human Being Human
Nordic contemporary jazz trio
"…‘Equals’ really does have everything in place to present an exciting project with three world-class musicians forming a genuinely compelling and charismatic union. The music is elegant with touches of brilliance throughout.
…Despite each of the numerous achievements that Bjørnskov, Tjalve and Bülow have amassed, ‘Equals’ should be considered a towering accomplishment and a project that would rank highly amongst each of the musicians’ respective catalogues as well as that for April Records.
May 2022, Imran Mirza 5/5 UKVibes
An album as elegant and graceful as it is melodically and rhythmically vibrant in its own distinctive way, Equals impresses more and more with each listen.
March 2022, Michael Tucker Jazzjournal
If you have a fondness for Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen and want to hear how his musical legacy is managed in jazz in 2022, you won't find a better offer. Torben Bjørnskov has made a contemporary trio album that should find a large audience.
June 2022: Niels Overgård, JazzNyt"
With the jazz piano tradition at its core, Human Being Human’s sound is full of surprises and
possibility. Passages of timeless openness, energetic, virtuosic improvisation and propulsive syncopated riffs rub shoulders with influences that span Bach counterpoints, electronica and ambient music. Thoughtful, intricate compositions serve as the vessel through which the ensemble can explore their collective musicality.
Danish group Human Being Human are a piano trio with a name that is a question as much as a statement, in which bassist-composer Torben Bjørnskov gently asks just what being human entails.
Out June 17th on April Records, Equals brings together three players who musically ponder our need to share love and be good.
The three musicians’ distinctly different backgrounds, ages, and musical identities contribute to Equals incredibly rich sound; Bjørnskov comes from the tradition of melodic Danish upright bassists, pianist Esben Tjalve is a modern player now based on London’s burgeoning jazz scene whilst drummer Frederik Bülow belongs to the new Nordic jazz generation, complete with rhythmic trickery and crossover grooves. What unites them is their mutual respect for the melodic and melancholic tone associated with Scandinavian jazz.
Line up
Frederik Bülow | drums
Esben Tjalve | piano, keys
Torben Bjørnskov | bass, electronics & compositions