Shikiori 想帰庵 Sinne Eeg & Jacob Christoffersen

• 1 Losing You 05:27
• 2 Hebi 04:00
• 3 Soba Flower (そばの花) 03:44
• 4 Lush Life 05:33
• 5 Better Than Anything 06:19
• 6 Maria 04:51
• 7 Cold 04:43
• 8 A Second Chance at Love 04:52
• 9 But Not for Me 05:07
• 10 Don't Be so Blue 04:47
• 11 Seems Like Yesterday 04:56
• 12 Soba 03:55
• Total Runtime 58:14

Info for Shikiori 想帰庵

Nach zwei Jahrzehnten musikalischer Zusammenarbeit veröffentlichen die dänischen Jazz-Koryphäen Sinne Eeg und Jacob Christoffersen ihr erstes Duo-Album SHIKIORI – ein Projekt, das in tiefer musikalischer Verwandtschaft verwurzelt ist, live in Japan aufgenommen wurde und in seinem Geist durch und durch menschlich ist. In einer Ära, die zunehmend von künstlicher Intelligenz geprägt ist, setzen Eeg und Christoffersen einen herzlichen Kontrapunkt: Musik, die atmet, schwankt, überrascht – und letztlich bewegt.

Angesichts der Tatsache, dass KI-generierte Kompositionen auf Streaming-Plattformen Einzug halten und Prognosen zufolge bis 2028 20% aller Streaming-Einnahmen ausmachen könnten, ist SHIKIORI ein bewusster Akt des Widerstands – eine warme Umarmung der Unvollkommenheit, Spontaneität und gemeinsamen Präsenz.

„Wenn es nicht von Menschen kommt, bewegt es uns nicht“, sagt Eeg. „Wir wollten etwas unverwechselbar Lebendiges machen. Dazu braucht es Vertrauen, Zeit und Präsenz, die Jacob und ich in 20 Jahren gemeinsamen Musizierens aufgebaut haben.“

Christoffersen schließt sich dieser Meinung an: „Eine der großen Freuden, mit Sinne zu spielen, ist, dass die Musik immer lebendig ist. Sie schafft den Raum dafür. Sie ist unvorhersehbar, und das macht sie real. Nach all den Jahren haben wir so etwas wie musikalische Telepathie – ich weiß immer, worauf sie hinaus will.“

Das Album wurde live in einem 150 Jahre alten traditionellen japanischen Haus namens Shikiori aufgenommen, das zum Konzertsaal umfunktioniert wurde, und fängt das Gefühl des Ortes ebenso ein wie den Klang. Das auf dem Land gelegene und von Bassist Seigo Matsunaga liebevoll restaurierte Haus strotzt nur so vor Seele: ein Shinto-Altar, ein verwittertes Klavier und ein Foto von Matsunagas Mentor Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen verleihen dem Raum eine stille Ehrfurcht vor Tradition, Handwerk und Gemeinschaft.

Nichts auf SHIKIORI wurde programmiert, bearbeitet oder auf Perfektion poliert. Die Darbietungen durften atmen und wurden nur durch das intuitive Zusammenspiel des Duos und die Wärme des Raums um sie herum geformt.

Die Veröffentlichung fällt mit einem bedeutenden internationalen Meilenstein für Sinne Eeg zusammen: Im Frühjahr 2025 wurde sie mit dem französischen Orden für Kunst und Literatur ausgezeichnet – eine Ehre, die sie mit Persönlichkeiten wie David Bowie und Meryl Streep teilt und die ihren künstlerischen Einfluss über Kulturen und Kontinente hinweg würdigt.

Eeg, die im dänischen Jazz bereits ein Begriff ist, hat sich auch in Europa, den USA und Asien, vor allem in Frankreich und Japan, eine treue Fangemeinde aufgebaut. SHIKIORI ist ein weiterer Schritt auf ihrer globalen Reise.

Das Album enthält Eigenkompositionen von Eeg und Christoffersen sowie ihre sehr persönlichen Interpretationen von Songs von Billy Strayhorn, Leonard Bernstein und Annie Lennox. Die Musik, in der sich lyrische Intimität und kühne Improvisation die Waage halten, ist geerdet und forschend – ein Ausdruck zweier Künstler, die es verstehen, zuzuhören, zu reagieren und gemeinsam etwas zu riskieren.

Sinne Eeg, Gesang
Jacob Christoffersen, Klavier, Fender Rhodes, Gesang

Sinne Eeg
Born in Lemvig, Denmark, jazz singer Sinne Eeg graduated from the Music Conservatory of West Jutland in 2003, and subsequently studied with American jazz singers Janet Lawson and Jay Clayton in New York City. “I learned a lot from studying music intensively at the music conservatory,” she explained. “But I think a lot of my musicality comes from my childhood and teenage years where I was exposed to so much music and great music teachers. Jazz was a big part of my upbringing. I played in several local big bands (alto saxophone) when I was a teenager, and I learned a lot about the structures and phrasing of the music.”

During her musical upbringing, Eeg gravitated toward singers with lower, richer voices, like Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Cassandra Wilson and Dianne Reeves. “Of course I studied all the great traditional jazz singers like Billie, Ella, Carmen, Anita and Sarah at the conservatory,” she said. “But it was also nice to have someone contemporary to look up to like Cassandra and Dianne, who respected the tradition of jazz singing but also had a fresh approach to it.” She recalled a seminal gig as a professional singer that helped launch her career. “It was a three-month engagement in Shanghai. They flew the whole band over from Denmark to play at The House Of Blues And Jazz six nights a week. During those three months I learned so much about performing in front of an audience and working with a band.”

After putting in her time for years on the road, performing at small clubs and cafes, Sinne won her first Danish Music Award for her album “Waiting For Dawn” in 2007. Her dark vocals and modern interpretation of Nordic jazz touched audiences all over Europe and Asia. Since then, Sinne has released several prize-winning albums, including her solo album “Dreams” from 2018, recorded in New York City with Scott Colley, Joey Baron, Larry Koonse and Jacob Christoffersen.

In early 2020 Sinne released one of her biggest projects ever: “We’ve Just Begun”, a winning collaboration with the 19-piece Danish Radio Big Band and her 9th album overall. The record was produced by André Fischer (Diane Schuur, Nina Simone, Natalie Cole) and mixed at the acclaimed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles by the legendary Al Schmitt (Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Ray Charles). The album has received countless international rave reviews, hovered high for many weeks on the American JazzWeek Top 50 chart, and continues to enjoy frequent airplay in all radio markets.

Sinne has many loyal fans in the US, Scandinavia and Asia, especially China and Japan. She is poised for a major breakthrough in the US, where she regularly tours. She has performed with American jazz icons including Larry Goldings, Peter Erskine and Ken Peplowski; and at storied jazz clubs including Green Mill in Chicago and Birdland in New York.

The Danish songstress is versatile, equally comfortable fronting big orchestras in concert halls as well as smaller ensembles in intimate jazz clubs. Everywhere she sings – Tokyo, Copenhagen, Los Angeles or Madrid – audiences are mesmerized by her incandescent phrasing and scatting, all with natural, perfect pitch.

Sinne Eeg is not only a brilliant vocalist; she is also a great songwriter. Her talent for writing and composing won the prestigious Danish Carl Prize 2018 for Song Of The Year, “Aleppo”, included on her album “Dreams”. Sinne has received numerous accolades, including four Danish Music Awards, the Danish Radio P2 Jazz Prize, the Ben Webster Prize, the French Prix Du Jazz and Queen Ingrid’s Honorary Grant, personally awarded by Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

Jacob Christoffersen
born March 31, 1967 in Copenhagen) is a Danish jazz pianist and composer. He attended music school at the age of 9, and began his professional career at 13. He performed with his own band, feat. violinist Kristian Jørgensen, in small jazz clubs and on festivals moving on to radio and national TV. As a young jazz musician he caught a lot of attention nationwide due to his 'mature' way of playing, and at the age of 17 he received his first jazz award 'Sørens Penge' for his outstanding playing and musicianship.

Jacob moved to Copenhagen to be a part of the vibrant music scene, playing mostly jazz, but gradually also going in the direction of pop, gospel, and especially funk. He joined the popular Danish group Ridin' Thumb, and co-founded various of other bands - for instance with saxofonist, Christina Nielsen (today known as Christina Dahl). In the following years he toured and recorded with numerous of musicians - not to mention Fred Wesley and James Moody. From mid 1990´s he was a member of saxophonist Hans Ulrik's band, as well as saxophonist Lars Møller Group. Both groups received Danish Music Awards (Grammys), and they toured extensively all over the world (China, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Numea, Russia, Scandinavia, Europe, and USA). From 1990-2005 he was a member of singer, Majbritte Ulrikkeholm's various groups, and they recorded several albums. Being the pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and co–composer, he positioned himself as an important player on the Danish Pop/Gospel scene.

​In 1999 Jacob formed his own jazz band with original material, developing his own unique sound and musical ideas. The outcome is four jazz recordings as well as massive touring allover Europe. From 1999-2014 he got appointed Associate Professor at The Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen. In the same period of time he collaborated with the internationally acclaimed and renowned bassplayer Chris Minh Doky - recording and touring throughout Europe and Asia.

In 2001 he joined the Danish, iconic band Shu-bi-dua, playing various instruments (piano, keys, guitar, accordion, saxophone etc.), and for the next decade he played around 600 concerts with this band, often in front of huge audiences. Shu-bi-dua sold over 7 million records - only in Denmark.

​Since 2008 he has been the pianist of the internationally acclaimed jazz singer Sinne Eeg. He has been recording and touring with her ever since – featuring on four of her albums and playing over 300 concerts worldwide as well as receiving two Danish Music Awards (Grammys). ​

From 2010 up till today Jacob has been associated with the renowned, legendary Copenhagen jazz club 'Jazzhus Montmartre'. He leads and participates in different groups and musical constellations starring numerous internationally acclaimed jazz musicians such as: Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Terry Linn Carrington, Peter Erskine, Till Brönner, Rodney Green, Warren Wolf, Nona Hendryx, Gregory Hutchinson, Lee Pearson, Kenny Washington and many more.

​In 2013 he received the prestigious award 'The Special Ben Webster Honorary Prize' in recognition for his outstanding achievements on the Danish jazz scene. Jacob most recent album 'We Want You' (Stunt Records, 2016) was very well received - nationally as well as internationally - and won the title 'Album of the Year 2017' in the Danish jazz magazine, Jazz Special.

This album contains no booklet.