Mosaic Jacob Karlzon & Rhani Krija

• 1 Blank Page 05:06
• 2 A Walk in Ambivalencia 06:14
• 3 Mosaic 05:57
• 4 Subsurface Serenade 05:33
• 5 Glow 03:47
• 6 Zenith 05:53
• 7 Futher Down That Road 07:04
• 8 Closer Look 04:26
• 9 Lost & Found 05:44
• 10 Last Dance 05:04
• Total Runtime 54:48

Info for Mosaic

The music of Jacob Karlzon and Rhani Krija is as diverse in color and form, as geometrically stimulating and exemplary in its figuration as a mosaic. The two musicians, each blessed with different musical backgrounds, are "Mosaic": a piano and percussion duo that takes the power of intuition to new heights on their debut album. The first encounter between Swedish pianist Jacob Karlzon and Moroccan percussionist Rhani Krija took place on the road in Dominic Miller's band. Krija marveled at Karlzon's musicality and openness to spontaneously create melodic and rhythmic gems of vital expressiveness. The pianist, in turn, immediately recognized the percussionist's abilities and urge to compose live on stage and enter into musical dialogue. Both felt instantly at home in each other's rich musical language.

Later, the two virtuosos logically headed out on stage instead of into the studio. Aware of how strongly the vitality of their joint music depends on momentum, they didn't waste any time. Classical jamming was less of a priority. Rather, their desire to experiment with composing was perfectly fulfilled in a live setting. Krija freely admits that he isn't a particularly patient person. Accordingly, immediately after the concert, they entered a recording studio with the manageable structures of ten spontaneously conceived pieces. Nothing should stand in the way of direct dialogue. Both the emotional depth and the almost tangible spatiality on which the "Mosaic" album is based underscore how inspired and spontaneous the recording conditions were.

The Mosaic Duo's compositions mature in the moment like puzzles. Fragments created in real time are brought into larger harmonic and groove contexts. This results in creative friction and tension, which find their resolution in the extremely finely tuned weaving of stories. Karlzon and Krija's storytelling is also unique due to the constant role reversal. The man of North African origins lets his many percussion instruments sometimes sing melodically, while the Scandinavian consistently sets pulse patterns on the 88 keys of his grand piano. In a multi-layered and colorful way, both instrumentalists mutually develop their respective core disciplines. The piece "Mosaic" is exemplary of this form of interaction.

Myriad harmonic and metrical subgroups intertwine, opening up new dimensions of communication to them. The Swede enthuses about how his partner's North African-influenced diversity of ideas liberated him somewhat from Western-influenced musical thought patterns. Krija, in turn, sees Karlzon's understanding of chords and melodies as confirmation of his fascination with Bach. The musical-historical and geographical coordinates between south and north are tangible in contemplative numbers like "A Walk In Ambivalencia." However, on the "Mosaic" album, the two musicians condense them to such an extent that something new, a continent of its own, emerges.

In "Blank Page," the melody notes are consistently grouped in different rhythmic forms. Any similarity in name to Frank Zappa's "The Black Page," however, is neither intended nor structurally evident. "Further Down That Road," with its dialogue-like minor tones, emphasizes the two musicians' shared respect for the expressive possibilities offered by jazz and its subgenres. In the context of the song, Jacob raises an eyebrow at how both the piano and percussion instruments can be "weapons of mass destruction." Their shared awareness of the privilege of free communication that comes from an appreciation of music allows the duo to merge into an open system. Triplets, 16th notes, and the occasional odd meter may initially create a disparate sound mosaic. The structures of the ten pieces, however, are true vehicles for the constant search for expressive cohesion. Does this give "Mosaic" a political significance? Karlzon and Krija dismiss the idea. Anyone who might recognize such a motive in their mutual, ongoing preservation of dignity is fundamentally not wrong. However, Krija, who has toured every continent with Peter Gabriel, Sting, and Herbie Hancock, and Karlzon, who has played with countless jazz greats, see something rather healing in their music. Dialogue contributes to spiritual, emotional connection, they say. Their shared "Mosaic" journey exemplifies this idea.

Jacob Karlzon, piano, keyboards
Rhani Krija, percussion

Jacob Karlzon
Swedish jazz pianist and composer Jacob Karlzon has been compared to Sweden’s own legends Esbjörn Svensson and Jan Johansson.

Karlzon’s playing style oozes technical brilliance, rhythmic and harmonic complexity with a perfect feeling for form. Karlzon describes what drives him: “We are a modern people with a long history, and it is precisely this which I want to reflect in my music. I am fascinated with the possibilities of new technologies but I also need warmth and a connection with the earth in order to feel happy.”

For a piano virtuoso, he likes to add edge; metal and electro all have their place in his music as well as folk songs from his Swedish homeland. With such an open attitude, Karlzon balances depth and musical ideas to achieve vibrant pulsating soundscapes ranging from light to energetic, fragile to powerful, organic to electronic, sometimes all at once. He calls this approach 'technorganic', a kind of improvisation which bursts out of conventional musical borders. He has also manifested this aesthetic direction in his collaboration with d&b audiotechnik and their Immersive Sound-system Soundscape.

Karlzon's music sits at the intersection of cool Scandinavian sensibilities (space, melancholy and sensitivity) and their emotional opposites (heat and passion). Karlzon’s powerful techniques and deep sensibility have made him a popular sideman working together with stars like Cæcilie Norby, Gino Vannelli, Till Brönner, Nils Landgren, and as well as being a sought after musical director for artists such as Viktoria Tolstoy .

Whilst he has a great reputation as an ensemble performer, his personal projects have also received great recognition. In 2010 he was awarded the Swedish Django d'Or and voted Jazz Musician of the Year.

In 2012 he was added to the Steinway Artist roster, an international recognition of excellence and in 2015 was acclaimed Jazz-group of the Year in the Swedish Radio’s audience poll.

Jacob Karlzon is always searching for new places, not just in his music. Following on from concerts in Europe, his trio has toured China, South Korea and USA but despite his rising fame and travelling to ever more distant countries, he always likes to return to his roots and earlier musical ideas:

“I got into jazz because I loved improvisation. This kind of spontaneous play achieves ever new levels in the direct communication with the audience, in the exchange of energy and emotion. Performing live for an audience is for me the ‘original place of music’, an ecstatic experience on both sides.”

Stylistically and musically, Jacob Karlzon is also well-travelled: He is a classically trained pianist but has shared a stage with big names such as Dominic Miller (with whom he also recorded the album “Vagabond” for ECM), Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone and Billy Cobham. He has forayed into the world of heavy metal with his albums “More” and “Now,” allowing electronic elements to set the pulse. No wonder he prefers to describe himself as an ‘alternative musician’

To date Karlzon has produced fourteen albums under his own name and the most recent one, “Winter Stories”, with Warner Music. As his artistic and musical profile has changed over the years, so have the members of the groups.

Besides solo recordings and productions, he works primarily with his trio and his newly formed quartet “Questar” as creative units. Currently the settings and personnel within them are pretty open. Karlzon is back working with drummer

Robert Mehmet Ikiz with whom he recorded “Shine” and “Now” (ACT) There is a deep, mutual understanding between them across all aspects of music which has created a strong interplay and a huge dynamic range involving everything from a deep, true groove to wide open soundscapes.

Karlzon has put out three solo piano albums, “One”, “Four Elements” and "Winter Stories” and toured Europe which has also established him as a well-respected solo act.

Karlzon creates music for “The Inner Film’ and loves it when others connect with these worlds.

“I want to take you emotionally out to sea, where your interpretation of my music determines in what direction you swim.”

Rhani Krija
Percussionist, Rhani Krija, was born in Essaouira Morocco, in the heart of the Gnawa culture, in 1971. While in his teens, he began listening to traditionel musical styles from North Africa, which formed the foundation for the music he plays today. Well-known for his knowledge of and ability to play authentic Andalusian, Arabic, African and Latin rhythms, Rhani has become a highly sought-after, international percussionist.

Currently living in Germany, Rhani has spent the last couple of years recording some fine percussion samplers for major record Labels and performin around the world.

Rhani Krija & Sting, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Annie Lenox, Stevie Wonder, Robert Downey, Mary J Blidge Rhani has been appearing,recording , touring and sharing the stage with :

Sting , Dominic Miller, herbie hancock, Al Di Meola , Placido Domingo , Peter Gabriel , Stevie Wonder, WDR Big Band, SWR Big Band , Vince Mendoza , Annie Lennox , prince , Klaus Doldinger, Vince Mendoza, BAP , Xavier Naidoo , sarah Connor , Herbert Grönemeyer ,Houda Saad , EMEL, Hindi Zahra , OUM , Max Mutzke , Martin Grubinger , Royal Symphonie Orchester of London , WDR Orchester …

This album contains no booklet.