Subcurrents Ole Matthiessen

• 1 Subcurrent 1 (96 kHz) 10:16
• 2 Den toppede høne 03:55
• 3 Footloose 03:00
• 4 Istanbul Memories 11:58
• 5 One for Ben 05:07
• 6 Tapping 24:08
• 7 Subcurrent 2 (96 kHz) 12:41
• Total Runtime 01:11:05

Info for Subcurrents

Danish pianist Ole Matthiessen, one of the most inventive voices in Scandinavian jazz, celebrates his 80th birthday with the release of Subcurrents on Storyville Records. A remarkable compilation spanning more than five decades of musical exploration. The album brings together 7 performances from 1968 to 2025, offering a rare glimpse into some alternative, improvisational currents that have defined Matthiessen’s career.

From the early energy of the Poul Ehlers Quartet in 1968, featuring the rare collaboration with free-jazz drummer Bo de Richelieu and a young Jesper Zeuthen, to his contributions in Erling Kroner’s Quintet in 1970, Matthiessen’s pianism has always blended melodic sensitivity with a restless curiosity. The album also includes the electrifying Turkish-inspired jazz of Atilla Engin Group in 1981, where Matthiessen fuses complex rhythms with the swinging spirit of jazz, as well as boundary-pushing improvisations with Global Units in 2011, incorporating electronics and experimental textures.

Later recordings, such as Testmann Jazz in 2023, highlight Matthiessen’s lyrical side, paying homage to Ben Webster while demonstrating his enduring command of ensemble interplay. Framing the album are two solo improvisations, Subcurrent 1 and Subcurrent 2, recorded in 2025 at The Village Studio, capturing the pianist at his most spontaneous, exploring sound, touch, and flow in real time with no rehearsals or retakes.

Subcurrents is more than a retrospective. It is a journey through the subtle undercurrents of jazz, and the threads connecting tradition, experimentation, and collaboration across decades. Produced, remastered, and annotated by Matthiessen himself, the album presents both longtime fans and new listeners with an intimate portrait of a musician whose adventurous spirit remains undiminished at 80.

Poul Ehlers Quartet:
Jesper Zeuthen, tenor saxophone
Ole Matthiessen, piano
Poul Ehlers, bass
Bo de Richelieu, drums

Erling Kroner Quintet:
Erling Kroner, trombone
Michael Hove, alto saxophone
Ole Matthiessen, piano
Jeffrey Paul Czerbinsky, bass
Bent Clausen, drums

Atilla Engin Group:
Ole Thøger, alto saxophone, flugelhorn
Simon Spang-Hanssen, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Ole Matthiessen, electric piano
Jens Melgaard, bass
Atilla Engin, drums, percussion
Okay Temiz, percussion

Global Units:
Malene Bichel, vocals
Søren Raagaard, sampler, fluxofonette, wind instrument
Ole Matthiessen, Fender Rhodes & modulator
Christian Rønn, electronics, keyboard

Testmann Jazz:
Peter Testmann, vocals
Jens Søndergaard, alto saxophone
Ole Matthiessen, piano
Ole Rahr, bass
Lars Bo Lindblad, drums

Ole Matthiessen
is a living legend of Danish jazz. Aged 80, this producer and full-time employee of the iconic jazz department at DR (Danish Radio) has influenced generations of musicians and listeners through his significant and multifaceted contributions to the genre.

Ole Matthiessen’s incredible career is the result of his deep and unwavering love for jazz. He began playing the piano in 1963 and, in the years that followed, made a name for himself through his musical contributions, accompanying leading Danish and international artists. Today, Matthiessen continues his career as an active performer on stages in Denmark and abroad. As a producer, he has overseen countless recordings with Danish musicians and the DR Big Band, as well as with icons from jazz history, including Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, Sun Ra and Miles Davis.

This album contains no booklet.