Skala

This is Mathias Eick's eagerly-awaited new leader date. The charismatic, young Norwegian trumpeter's intensely melodic trumpet occupies centre-stage in this album of self-penned tunes. Against the powerful backdrops offered by his sleek, modem band, driven by two drummers, he delivers richly lyrical soliloquies. Eick (born 1979) has taken the pensive lyricism and melancholy of his trumpet heroes including Kenny Wheeler, Chet Baker and Miles Davis and transformed the influence intro something personal. His trumpet sings with great clarity and his solos, like his themes, are melodically memorable.