GLOOMERS is here!
Liner notes by Adam Baruch:
"Kenneth Dahl Knudsen – "Gloomers"
Music, for me, is not only about the sounds, but no less significantly about the people behind the sounds, those who play and most importantly compose it – a miracle of creation something seemingly out of nothing. This is why throughout my life I have collected records, but also friendships with musicians, many of which lasted for decades. Bassist / composer / bandleader Kenneth Dahl Knudsen is one of such cases.
In 2010 I received a debut album by a young musician / composer from Denmark, recorded with an impressive international lineup of musicians, which immediately stood out among the many albums I receive every day. Not surprisingly, it was followed by a string of other albums, which portrayed Knudsen’s development, and in time we also got acquainted personally. In time I learned that behind the posture of a mighty Viking hides a thoughtful, heartfelt musician as well as a sweat, subtle human being.
Knudsen is definitely one of the most unbounded European musicians, for whom geography is absolutely meaningless, as are all genre limitations or orchestration settings. Over the years, his music encompassed a myriad of influences from Folkloristic sources, it touched upon Classical, Pop or Rock and was performed by intimate ensembles and Big Bands – a true kaleidoscope of musical implementations, of course always close in one form or another to Jazz, which is at the core of his creativity. This wide “universality” might have proved to be distractive or chaotic, but miraculously he manages to frame it in perfect musical form and shape, time after time.
Listening to this album, one might be somewhat surprised by the new musical elements, which are prominently featured herein, most of all the female vocals, or rather almost exclusively vocalese, which are the leading “instrument”, but also the vast extent of melancholy or even gloom, which undelays the proceedings. In many ways these elements are perhaps somewhat different from Knudsen’s earlier recorded legacy, but careful listening reveals that it is a synthesis or a culmination of sorts of his earlier work, as well as a reflection of the reality that surrounds as all, with the pandemic, bloody conflicts and overwhelming technology impact, all of which obviously touch every sensitive human being.
Regardless of the fact if you, the listener, are familiar with Knudsen’s past recordings, or if this is the first piece of music by him in your hands, I am pretty sure that the depth, elegance and honesty of this music will go straight to the heart. Repeated listening sessions are recommended, as the wealth and hidden complexity will be revealed gradually, as aesthetic values tend to sink in gently. Thank you for the gift of music, my Friend, and hopefully many more people will have the opportunity to discover your talents!
Adam Baruch, June 2024
www.adambaruch.com"