CD ECM Records Ketil Bjornstad / Terje Rypdal: Life In Leipzig

Ketil Bjornstad - pian
Terje Rypdal - chitara electrica

Inregistrare facuta in concert, pe 14 octombrie 2005, in cadrul Leipziger Jazztage

ecmreviews.com:

'Pianist Ketil Bjørnstad and guitarist Terje Rypdal present a parallel universe to the former’s duo recordings with cellist David Darling. Despite having performed with Rypdal more than any other musician, Bjørnstad makes here his album debut with Rypdal as a duo. Recorded live at Leipzig’s Opera House in 2005, this document finds both musicians unmasked and in prime lyric form. They are also more focused and impactful in their playing, needing only to listen to each other and to the muses guiding them to sing.

With a Bösendorfer piano at his fingertips, Bjørnstad elicits a heavier sound not heard on previous projects. “The Sea V” thus begins the set in rather dark territory for Bjørnstad, whose lyricism tends to skim the waterline. Only now it scours the ocean floor, a ghost from some ancient wreckage clawing silt and coral into musical rebirth. The pianism gradually turns into sparkle, while Rypdal’s fire remains untainted by the waves—if anything, enlivened by them. Thus the album offers its first of a handful of reprises from The Sea, including also Nos. II and IX. Both overflow with aching nostalgia, the mode of speech between the duo so heartwarming that you’d swear you’ve heard it before, even if for the first time. The latter tune treats us to some rare strumming from Rypdal for a webbed, Bill Frisell-like effect. [...]"

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There’s a classical depth to Ketil Bjørnstad’s piano, but this isn’t classical music … And Terje Rypdal’s post-Hendrix guitar howls at the moon, but he isn’t really playing rock. … For this live disc, they distill their poetic soundscapes to a duo. … This is staggeringly beautiful music, able to beguile anyone with open ears.
Bradley Bambarger, The Star-Ledger

Both musicians are powerful melodists and natural storytellers, a duality that is both enduring and timeless, and is at the heart of these absorbing performances.
Stuart Nicholson, Jazzwise

Rypdal’s singing electric guitar sound begins to whirl over percussive piano chording; it dives from violin-like high sounds to dark, flailing descents and back up to wheeling-bird cries on The Sea II, over Bjørnstad’s urgent ostinato. … The 10-minute finale, in which Rypdal’s astonishing multi-layered solo Le Manfred/Foran Peisen segues into the ecstatic and infectious progrocker The Return of Per Ulv, is just about worth the price of the disc.
John Fordham, The Guardian

One of the most ecstatic celebrations of melody and inspired romantic expressiveness ever made.
Dagbladet

What a sound – a feast for the ears! Life in Leipzig presents pianist Ketil Bjørnstad and guitarist Terje Rypdal in concert. … The music is decidedly romantic in the widest sense, full of large gestures that bring forth intense emotions and vivid images that must, however, have originated from within the players.
Budd Kopman, All About Jazz