Banshee

Awarded Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy Awards) in the chategory Jazz 2024, and nominated for Danish Music Awards Jazz 2024

Banshee was originally a commission work for Vossa Jazz in 2022 for 7 people. 

The piece is based on Irish mysticism, specifically the figure of the Banshee, who, through the use of a loud voice, comes with a warning of death and grief. 

Emmeluth draws on the tales about the titular figure from Irish mythology to ask questions about this life and what we want from it, what do we leave behind. The music ricochets all over the place, careening between ritualistic rhythmic workouts, brittle free improvisation, war whoops, chamber music and more, cagily eluding easy categorization. Emmeluth has genuinely carved out her own sui generis sonic world.

Signe Emmeluth–alto saxophone, electronics, voice, composition
Guoste Tamulynaite–piano, synthesizer, voice
Jennifer Torrence–percussion, voice
Guro Skumsnes Moe–electric bass, double bass, voice
Heiða Karine Jóhannesdóttir Mobeck–tuba, electronics, voice
Anne Efternøler–trumpet, voice
Maja S. K. Ratkje–voice, electronics, violin

Reviews

https://www.citizenjazz.com/Jazzfest-Berlin-a-l-abri-du-feu.html

Signe Emmeluth is a saxophonist, improviser and composer based in Oslo, Norway