A leading Norwegian bassist for over 30 years, ECM legend Arild Andersen forges promising relationships with two rising stars - Daniel Sommer (drums) and Rob Luft (guitar) in an expansive, playful exploration of song and collective improvisation. Led by Sommer, the release signifies the first chapter of the drummer's much-anticipated Nordic trilogy on April Records, aiming to capture and document Nordic improvisation and composition across three carefully curated ensembles. Bassist Arild Andersen's storied career stretches back to the 1970's as one of ECM's first recording artists, collaborating with household names of the genre including Jan Garbarek, Don Cherry, Bill Frisell, John Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, and the list goes on. Welcoming the opportunity to work with and nurture younger artists, the ensemble was born when Daniel Sommer selected Andersen for a project during his studies at the Danish National Academy of Music. Later, impressed by Luft's performances in Ireland and Norway, Andersen suggested expanding the pair into a trio. A transcendent musical voyage, 'As Time Passes' blurs the lines of conventional trio roles, and celebrates the evolution of jazz as a fluid, versatile form of expression. By providing each musician the freedom of becoming a key contributor in the melodic discourse, the trio channels the spirit of jazz veterans such as the Bill Evans Trio and free-jazz ensemble Air, while echoing the sounds and innovations of pan-European contemporary jazz. Mixing pensive rubato ambience with energetic grooves, instrumental dexterity, a modern ECM-esque sound and folk undertones, the record's compositional clarity combined with the spontaneity of a live performance flows across and between genres, borders and generations alike. Luft's intricately overdubbed layers of acoustic guitars, vast reverbs, and contrapuntal melodies expand the sound of the three piece into an immersive world of textures.
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Raphael Wressnig Committed
Zyx Music
June 6, 2025 -
Imha Tarikat Confessing Darkness
Prophecy
June 20, 2025 -
Mansur Brown Rihla
Amai Records
September 5, 2025 -
Azamiah Two Lands - Yello
Floating World
June 6, 2025 -
Cynthia Erivo I Forgive You (Sky Blue/Black Marble; Amazon Exclusive) [2xLP]
Republic Records/Verve
June 6, 2025 -
Vicious Rumors The Devil's Asylum
Steamhammer
August 29, 2025 -
Nadav Schneerson Sheva
Kavana
June 13, 2025 -
Willi Carlisle Winged Victory
Signature Sounds
June 27, 2025 -
Natalie Bergman My Home Is Not In This World
Third Man Records
July 18, 2025 -
Cynthia Erivo I Forgive You [2xLP]
Republic Records/Verve
June 6, 2025 -
Matt Jencik and Midwife Never Die
Relapse
July 11, 2025 -
GoGo Penguin Necessary Fictions [2xLP]
Masterworks
July 11, 2025 -
Turnpike Troubadours The Price of Admission
Bossier City Records
June 27, 2025 -
Pool Kids Easier Said Than Done
Epitaph
September 26, 2025