A numinous lilt to the singer’s voice establishes itself and in tandem with trumpeter Arve Henriksen, who has one of the most unique playing timbres in contemporary music Pilgrim is a welcome turn of the wheel for ACT a label synonymous since the 1990s with the enduring musical contribution of EST.
Patchy in recent years in terms of output since the departure of Vijay Iyer for ECM and reliant more on family acts that the Siggi Loch-directed label is famously supportive and nurturing of notwithstanding the runaway international success of Youn Sun Nah, Janne Mark may not have very wide appeal beyond Europe and many jazz fans will be puzzled by her hymning style, a syncretism of folk-like carefully emergent melodies and Americana among her secret ingredients. The impact is convincing and above all humane much more significantly. Word of mouth, one may hope if not take for granted at all, will in the end carry the day. Covet, and cherish regardless of whether this sinks without trace or not.
