Trio Brax is a chamber music ensemble based in Tromsø, Northern Norway, founded in 2015. In this first recording they showcase music by the three Norwegian composers; Kjell Habbestad, Håvard Lund, and Helge Iberg, as well as music by Paul Hindemith.
With the unusual combination of viola, tenor saxophone, and piano, Trio Brax is an odd flower in the world of classical chamber music. The highlighting of two instruments that are not commonly identified as solistic is intriguing and offers a different palette to the listener. While other conventional piano trios can pick and choose from a wide range of well-known classical works, there used to be just one famous work written for the ensemble type of Trio Brax; Trio Op. 47 by Paul Hindemith from 1928. Well, until now!
Challenging three of Norway's leading contemporary composers to plunge into this universe initially discovered by Hindemith, a new and exciting repertory has emerged. As the combination of the three instruments opens for brand new timbres, musical landscapes and dynamic voyages, the three new works display a wide range of musical colours. We are presented with music that is playful without being experimental, expressive as well as virtuosic on multiple levels.