April Records proudly presents the debut album from trumpeter and composer Rolf Thofte, a vivid and personal work that balances lyrical melodies, inventive rhythms, and subtle harmonic exploration. Written during his early years of fatherhood, Martha’s Dance captures moments of joy, reflection, and experimentation, brought to life by a handpicked quintet of Denmark’s most exciting young jazz talents.
The title track, dedicated to Thofte’s three-year-old daughter, sets the tone: a playful, clapping, goat-hoof-stomping tune in quirky 5/4 that channels the spontaneity and delight of childhood. “It’s just a fun tune to play, and I feel like it really captures Martha’s spirit,” Thofte explains. “This band came together at a time when I was trying to find balance as a new father, so it felt right to make this the centerpiece.”
The album gracefully shifts through moods and textures. Vice Versa, inspired by Wayne Shorter’s ability to refract simple melodies through shifting harmonies, brims with layered intrigue. Changing Tides reflects on the subtle transformations in life, nature, and politics, while Bendico—written in only 15 minutes as a conservatory assignment—highlights Thofte’s flair for memorable melodic statements. Dunkelflaute evokes Nordic melancholy with sparse, emotive phrasing, contrasting with the swaggering second-line grooves of The Big 5 and the hypnotic pulse of All….
Throughout, Thofte’s trumpet and flugelhorn guide the ensemble with warmth, clarity, and emotional depth. His quintet amplifies this vision: Andreas Toftemark (tenor saxophone) infuses the music with NYC-honed fire and detail; Rasmus Sørensen (piano) offers sensitive, exploratory interaction; and longtime collaborators Jakob Roland (bass) and Henrik Holst (drums) provide rhythmic drive, deep swing, and empathic grounding.
With Martha’s Dance, Rolf Thofte delivers a confident, cohesive debut—rooted in jazz tradition yet brimming with forward-thinking ideas. His nuanced writing and expressive playing mark him as a compelling new voice on the European jazz landscape.
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