Gulli Gudmundsson, Jeroen van Vliet, Koen Smits - Flóð Og Fjara (2025)

Flóð og Fjara (High and Low Tide) is the debut album of Icelandic bassist Gulli Gudmundsson’s new trio, featuring pianist Jeroen van Vliet and trumpeter Koen Smits. The album presents nine tracks blending chamber music and jazz, inspired by Gudmundsson's personal family history and the concept of home. Six compositions are by Gudmundsson, one by van Vliet, and two by composers Federico Moreno Torroba and Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson.

The trio creates rich soundscapes using piano, double bass, and trumpet, enhanced by subtle technical effects like reverberation. The arrangements showcase lyrical trumpet solos, intricate interplay, and a deep emotional connection. Pieces like Heyr, himna smiður highlight their masterful balance, with each musician knowing when to step forward or recede.

The album reflects Gudmundsson’s grandparents' poignant story: their meeting in Iceland, separation due to World War I, and his grandfather’s tragic death in Cuba. This narrative inspired themes of longing, displacement, and the search for belonging, embodied in the ebb and flow of emotions akin to tides. The trio’s cohesive sound, rooted in jazz and chamber music traditions, promises to make a lasting impact.

Tracklist:
1-1 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Fjarri
1-2 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Philip
1-3 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Glíma
1-4 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Heyr, Himna Smiður
1-5 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Panta
1-6 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Flóð Og Fjara
1-7 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Alcañiz
1-8 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Sólveig
1-9 Gulli Gudmundsson;Jeroen van Vliet;Koen Smits - Komdu Heim