UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE QUARTET
Kirk Knuffke - Cornet, Vocal (US)
Thommy Andersson - Bass (SWE)
Charles Burnham - Violin, Vocal (US)
Martin Andersen - Drums (DK)
Kirk Knuffke is as New York based cornet player, recently voted no.1 trumpet player in Downbeat Magazine, and considered one of the leading improvisers of his generation in New York.
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Charles Burnham has been a violin frontrunner for decades on the world jazzscene and are among other projects recorded the album `Odyssey ` with James Blood Ulmer
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Thommy Andersson on bass and Martin Andersen on drums have been collaborated together on countless projects. Among them are Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra for more than 20 years.
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The 72-year-old violinist has worked with everything from Living Color, Cassanadra Wilson, Norah Jones, Hendy Threadgill, Joan AS Policewoman over James Blood Ulmer to Martin Medesky and has set standards for violin in modern improvised music over the past 40 years.
The collaboration between cornet player Kirk Knuffke and Thommy Andersson started in 2014 where they met in New York for the recording of Pierre Dørge's album Blui togheter with drummer Hamid Drake. Since then, their collaboration in various ensembles has led to the release of joint projects with 3 albums and tour actvities. Together they have also toured Europe with the Allison Miller Boom Tic Boom band and The New Jungle Orchestra.
The repertoire is based on investigation of the melting point between Scandinavian and American folklore. The basic idea with this group is developing sound and textures based on originals and folksongs.