Wavemakers is a fascinating album by Swiss pianist/ composer/ filmmaker Alex Ventling and his quartet. Alex was born and raised in New Zealand and is now based in Norway. His quartet is made up of Tuva Halse on violin, Amund Stenøien on vibraphone, August Glännestrand on drums and percussion, and Ventling on piano and synth. Ventling has had extensive musical training in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Norway, and has established himself on the Norwegian and European jazz scene both solo and with collaborative projects. Quoting the quartet’s press release:

“With its unusual instrumentation and focus on dynamic tension, Wavemakers functions as a ‘groove-organism’ where each instrument weaves into a larger tapestry of shifting rhythmic webs and evolving textures.

“Wavemakers – a richly textured project where chamber-jazz lyricism meets Nordic atmospheres, cinematic grooves, and meditative forward motion. Built on the interplay of four distinctive voices, the music explores momentum, fragility, and transformation, inviting listeners into a sound world that feels both organic and expansive.”

Wavemakers begins with “Tracking,” one of the quieter and more melodic pieces on the album. The piano and drums establish a pattern and groove that allow all four instrumentalists to spread their musical wings. “Omaha” features guest vocalist Sissel Vera Pettersen and was inspired by the New Zealand beach where Ventling learned to walk as a child. Pettersen stays in the lead throughout the piece, telling an intriguing story with her voice, but not using any actual lyrics. “Trondheim 1” incorporates quite a lot of open space into the music with the piano and drums holding the lead for much of it. “Trondheim 2” begins with an interesting duet for piano and vibes before the violin and drums join in. Light and carefree, there is a playful buoyancy at work in this one! At just over a minute, “Traces” is a sprightly duet for piano and drums/percussion. “Trondheim 3” has a much stronger groove than the previous two “Trondheims,” and the three parts certainly indicate that Trondheim is a great place to be - or at least be!! Amund Stenøien’s vibes are especially “notable” on this one, as are August Glännestrand’s drums and percussion! “January” is very chilly with vast open spaces, brilliant sparkles, and a relaxed demeanor. “Spiral” feels very dark and mysterious as it moves slowly and gracefully. There are no drums or percussion on this one until the second half of this almost nine-minute piece. The last couple of minutes pick up the tempo considerably to the end. Wavemakers comes to a close with “Four Refractions,” a piece that showcases the quartet’s signature rhythmic shifts - soulful and hypnotic.

Wavemakers is available to stream or download on Apple Music/iTunes and on many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora.