Hildegunn Øiseth Quartet

MEANDERING

Hildegunn Øiseth Trumpet, Bukkehorn / Espen Berg Piano /

Magne Thormodsæter Bass / Per Oddvar Johansen Drums

With MEANDERING, the Hildegunn Øiseth Quartet presents its most radical and at the same time most liberated album to date. For the first time, the ensemble fully dedicates itself to free improvisation—a natural step for a band that has long stood for stylistic openness, sonic curiosity, and the blending of diverse musical traditions. As Hildegunn Øiseth herself notes, she has long been interested in bringing different musical traditions together and creating something new from them—an approach that resonates strongly throughout this release.

The Norwegian trumpeter and bukkehorn player is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary European jazz. Her musical language draws on a broad spectrum of experiences, from her work with the Bohuslän Big Band to extended stays in South Africa and research journeys to Pakistan, where she explored connections between Nordic folk traditions and non-European musical forms. Critics have described her work as bridging Nordic folk traditions with modern jazz in a highly personal way—an observation that feels particularly apt in the open, exploratory landscape of MEANDERING.

Central to her unmistakable sound is the bukkehorn, a traditional goat horn whose raw and ancient timbre she recontextualizes within a contemporary improvisational setting. Øiseth herself describes the instrument as having a very direct and raw sound that connects her to something very old, while at the same time allowing her to use it in a distinctly contemporary way.

Her long-standing quartet with Espen Berg (piano), Magne Thormodsæter (bass), and Per Oddvar Johansen (drums) forms the core of her artistic work. The ensemble is known for its refined interplay, combining harmonic depth with rhythmic sensitivity and an acute awareness of collective sound. Observers frequently highlight how the quartet thrives on subtle interaction and a deep sense of collective listening—qualities that become the driving force behind this new recording.

While earlier releases—most recently Garden on the Roof (2024)—were still rooted in clearly defined compositional frameworks, MEANDERING marks a conscious departure: eight pieces created entirely in the moment, without predetermined structures, shaped solely by intuition, experience, and trust. For Øiseth, improvisation is fundamentally about listening and reacting in the moment—a form of musical conversation—which becomes the central principle guiding the album.

The title reflects a deliberate openness—a non-linear exploration of sound and form. The music moves fluidly between duo, trio, and quartet constellations, expanding and dissolving, constantly shifting direction while remaining deeply interconnected. The pieces—Mourning Space, Just Saying, Innerviews, Missing Marilyn, Meandering, Melting Icicle, Winterspring, and Whale Fall—unfold as sonic snapshots of a shared musical consciousness: at times sparse and fragile, at others eruptive and intense.

With MEANDERING, the Hildegunn Øiseth Quartet reveals a uncompromisingly improvisational side while continuing its artistic evolution with clarity and focus. Released on the Swiss label Clap Your Hands, the album further affirms the quartet’s position as a unique and forward-looking voice in contemporary jazz.