Hand of Benediction II

“Visionary guitarist and composer Henrik Olsson presents Hand of Benediction II, a follow-up album to the critically acclaimed 2019 release “Hand of Benediction”. With a method that is both personal and exploratory, Olsson allows stylistic references and sound worlds to alternate fluidly in his compositions. His sprawling musical narrative is coming into existence through the performers' strong instrumental voices, collective creativity and personal involvement, as well as in the post-production process. Formerly a trio, the line-up on Hand of Benediction II has now expanded to become a quartet, with the addition of Egil Kalman on modular synth. As Olsson says, “It adds a new sonic dimension to the guitar-bass-drums format, and offers challenging alternatives to the well trodden paths usually taken within the guitar based free jazz/rock idiom” - Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts

The album was released on March 17, 2023 on Barefoot Records, and was nominated for “Best Experimental Album Of The Year” at the Danish Music Awards 2023.

Henrik Olsson - Electric guitar/bowed psaltery & composition Egil Kalman - modular synthesizer
Jeppe Skovbakke - Electric Bass/Double Bass
Rune Lohse - Drums

Recorded and Mixed by Peter Barnow
Mastered by Emil Thomsen
Artwork by Henrik Olsson
Layout Design by Ola Rubin

"Det er en meget anbefalelsesværdig plade til jazzlytteren med avantgarde og punk i blodet. Der er endda en chance for at den lytter vil synes, at det er noget af det bedste vedkommende har hørt i lang tid." - Niels Overgård, Jazznyt

Hand of Benediction

Henrik Olsson is a swedish guitarist and composer based in Copenhagen. He is well established on the danish and international jazz/improvisation scene, where his playing have attracted attention through his own projects Penumbra Ensemble, The Hum, EHM as well as through various ad hoc contexts. His new project Hand of Benediction is a guitar-bass-drum trio and features two unique voices on the scene; drummer Rune Lohse and bass player Jeppe Skovbakke. The narrative structure of Henrik Olsson´s compositions encompasses straightforward spontanity and wildness as well as poetic obscurity. Rune Lohse is well known for his work with Horse Orchestra, Michael Rexen, and Klimaforandringer. Jeppe Skovbakke has toured and recorded with several generations of danish jazz musicians and a number of international soloists ranging from John Tchicai to Rhys Chatham

released July 12, 2019 on Barefoot Records.

Henrik Olsson - Electric guitar/bowed psaltery & composition
Jeppe Skovbakke - Electric Bass/Double Bass
Rune Lohse - Drums

Guests:
Julie Kjær - Flute/Bass Clarinet (Track 5 & 7)
Kristian Tangvik - Tuba (Track 7)

Recorded and Mixed by Jens Benz (Jens Søndergaard)
Mastered by John Fomsgaard
Artwork by Henrik Olsson
Layout Design by Ola Rubin

LISTEN/BUY LP/CD/DIGITAL AT Bandcamp

"The debut album of this trio, augmented by reeds player Julie Kjær and tuba player Kristian Tangvik, is a kind of semi-occult, free-jazz drama that makes full use of the highly personal and often eccentric voices of this trio...Get ready to shine and open your chakras with these fascinating sonic spells, courtesy of sonic sorcerer Olsson & Co." - Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts

"Recommended New Release in The New York City Jazz Record 2019"

“With ‘Hand of Benediction’ Olsson is pushing forward the idiom of avant rock, making it more wild with his oversized eccentric movements. For sure here is somebody at work with a very outspoken vision and drive. It is a lovely madness and a very remarkable statement by this composer and guitarist of whom I hope to hear more” – Dolf Mulder, Vital Weekly

"In his own way, Olsson has been able to bring to life a very exciting and refreshing musical phenomenon" - Jouko Kirstilä, Jazzrytmit

Throughout Hand Of Benediction, Olsson displays his own musical vocabulary which is full of surprising sounds and unpredictable explorations. He never plays the expected and somehow his sidemen follow him closely even when the music is at its freest…The only reservation I have is that the graphics on the CD cover are confusing so I am unable to determine which of Hendrik Olsson’s original pieces is being performed at a particular time. But since his moody and adventurous music is beyond words anyway, Hand Of Benediction is recommended for those listeners who enjoy hearing the guitar’s potential for unconventional sounds multiplied in colorful fashion. - Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

"Den eventyrlystne og nysgerrige guitarist Henrik Olsson er sammen med Jeppe Skovbakke på bas og Rune Lohse på trommer på albummet Hand of benedicition. I en malstrøm af free jazz, avantgarde rock og eksperimenter kaster Henrik Olsson lytteren ind i et roterende virvar. Henrik Olsson er guitaristen der ikke giver slip når han giver los." - Niels Overgård, Jazznyt

"Less than 35 minutes have just passed in the blink of an eye - and the impressions are so many that a two-volume novel could be written." - Spontaneous Music Tribune

"This is the trio's debut recording led by cagey and inventive Swedish guitarist Henrik Olsson for a set that resides in an opaque realm, containing dabs of free jazz, punk jazz and avant-garde rock. The agile and limber trio ventures through some enigmatic musical territory via tight unison phrasings, multipart progressions, animated and linear uprisings along with crunching rock riffs and fleeting nods to classic jazz fusion...The musicians' diversified track mix sets this album apart from many similar undertakings, along with hints of melody and umpteen ways to attack a largely renegade adventure with cohesive statements and even a few memorable melodies. No doubt, the band gets out of the gate with a bang. Hopefully, more goodness is still to come." - Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

Concert review in danish newspaper Information (in danish)