Lauritz Skeidsvoll’s Rapid Light LP

Rapid Light is the first quartet in Lauritz´s own name, formed in the winter of 2023.

The quartet recorded this album in February 2024 in Studio Paradiso, Oslo, Norway – Together with the great sound engineer Christian Engfelt.

Rapid Light is a result of a need to create a raw, powerful and open musical landscape where the musicians can thrive and explore together. The tunes are inspired by my love for strong melodies in orchestral film music and the raw energy and creativity in American and European free jazz. I have put together a band with some of the most inspiring and interesting musicians I know and I believe that together we make up a powerful quartet, which with the help of melodious compositions, great rhythmic drive, and a sincere urge to explore, conjures up a raw and energetic primal force.

The album begins on side A with “Woodlands,” a journey lasting 10 minutes and 40 seconds, followed by the expansive “Waltz Mantra,” which runs for 15 minutes and 1 second. Flipping to side B, listeners are met with “Anguish Within,” a track that spans 9 minutes and 27 seconds, and the album concludes with “Herons,” an 11-minute and 13-second exploration.

The quartet behind this work includes Lauritz Heitmann Skeidsvoll on saxophones, who also composed the pieces, Isach Skeidsvoll on piano, Georgia Wartel Collins on bass, and Rino Sivathas on drums. For this session, Jomar Jeppsson Søvik joined the ensemble, adding layers of percussion.

The album was recorded at Studio Paradiso in Oslo, with Christian Engfelt as the engineer. Mixing duties were handled by Jørgen Smådal Larsen at Studio Paradiso, and the mastering was done by Samuli Tanner. The label design was created by Nich Lowe, while the cover art was crafted by Arsi Keva. The artwork was screenprinted on recycled flipped LP covers at Kalasataman Seripaja in Helsinki.

Album ships third/fourth week of September.