Yelena Eckemoff - Rosendals Garden V
"Gamla Stan" (L & H Productions, 2025)
Composer Yelena Eckemoff has turned the release of Rosendals Garden into a living event with her fifth single release from the recording. “Gamla Stan” continues the composer’s creative thought surrounding a vacation to Rosendals Garden, which is on Djurgården, an island in Stockholm belonging to the Swedish royal family.
Gamla Stan (translated, “The Old Town”) was the original establishment of Stockholm. Originating in the 13th century, Gamla Stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. Gamla Stan includes the surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen and Strömsborg. It exists today as an example of Swedish architecture, with many of Sweden's most renowned architects shaping the area; these include figures such as Nicodemus Tessin and Carl Hårleman, who worked on the Stockholm Palace, still in the area.1
Leading her rhythm section of bassist Svante Henryson and drummer Morgan Ågren, Eckemoff recasts the jazz piano trio into a world music juggernaut teeming with creative thought. “Gamla Stan” begins with sonic fits and starts before straightening out with Eckemoff’s busy left hand establishing a circuitous harmonic path. The piece features Henryson on both bass and cello. Eckemoff seasons the song with block chords and mini-figures, adding layer upon layer of complexity to the story. Henryson’s bass solo engages the composition perpendicularly into what sounds like helicopters hovering above a complex exhibition by drummer Morgan Ågren, who injects polyrhythms into the miasma.
Moody and challenging, Eckemoff encourages the listener to actively engage in the listening and hearing of the piece on its own terms, a fractured suite, everything occurring at once, like time as a flat circle.
Previous single releases from Rosendals Garden
to, Contributors. “Urban District in Stockholm, Sweden.” Wikipedia.org. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., April 30, 2003. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamla_Stan.
Thank you so much!