Frode Haltli: Looking on Darkness

‘Looking on Darkness’ is the solo recording debut of accordionist Frode Haltli, a major talent from Norway, destined to make his mark on several genres. He was last heard on ECM in the company of Trygve Seim and friends, but his primary commitment is to the performance of contemporary composition and this album features Nordic new music – from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland – written for the accordion.

Four of the five pieces are premiere recordings, written especially for Haltli. They add up to a fascinating landscape of new music from the north, music which casts its inspirational net wide. Features compositions by Bent Sørensen, Asbjørn Schaathun, Magnus Lindberg, PerMagnus Lindborg, and Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje. Haltli is joined by the Vertavo String Quartet for Ratkje’s “gagaku variations”.
-ECM

For this album Frode Haltli recieved Spellemannprisen 2002 (the “Norwegian Grammy”) as well as the French Prix Gus Viseur, in the category for contemporary music.