Christmas Sessions – Gjermund Larsen Trio

After nearly 20 years of playing their own compositions, Gjermund Larsen Trio is now releasing their first Christmas album. In a beautiful, folk-inspired musical landscape, the trio interprets well-known and beloved Christmas songs in their own unique way.

Gjermund Larsen Trio, consisting of Gjermund Larsen (fiddle), Andreas Utnem (harmonium/piano), and Sondre Meisfjord (double bass), has received high praise, acclaim, and numerous awards since their debut release in 2008, including a Norwegian Grammy award (2008), the German Phonographic Critics Award (2015), and the TONO Composer Award (2016).

The trio had long wanted to make a Christmas album but hadn’t found the time to realize the project until now. When Gjermund Larsen Trio performed with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir on their Christmas album “Veni – Songs of Christmas II” in 2022, it sparked even more motivation to begin their own Christmas project.

This fall, with just three recording days available, the trio entered Amper Tone Studio. The process was inspiring, intense, and productive. Gjermund Larsen explains:

– We had sketches, ideas, and thoughts about how we wanted to shape the music, but it took its final form and shape during three intense studio days. It’s both daunting and exciting to release music that everyone knows and has a strong attachment to. We selected the Christmas music we like best and gave it our own signature. Releasing Christmas music now also feels right for reasons beyond the purely musical ones. Many Christmas songs carry a powerful message of peace, something that is unfortunately more relevant than ever in these times!

With harmonium featured in all tracks, they create a warm and beautiful Christmas atmosphere. The intimate arrangements fit the repertoire well, keeping the overall feel natural and unpretentious. Gjermund continues:

– We believe this release will make an important contribution to the ever-growing jungle of Christmas albums. The album is instrumental, and the arrangements are original and unembellished. We play with a strong folk music identity, which we believe many will find familiar. In many ways, Christmas music today is everyone’s folk music.