Søren Ulrik Thomsen & Det Glemte Kvarter + Aarhus Jazz Orchestra

 
Few can capture the essence of existence in words quite like the author Søren Ulrik Thomsen. In his highly acclaimed 'En hårnål klemt inde bag panelet' (A Hairpin Wedged Behind the Panel), readers are left breathless, asking themselves how he can so precisely depict the life we live, offering insights that help us better understand ourselves. This book has now inspired a new musical work of the same name, composed by Mikkel Borrisholt Grevsen for the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and Det Glemte Kvarter, with Søren Ulrik Thomsen himself as the powerful and charismatic narrator. Here, an innovative musical language meets reflective, book-based lyricism, blending rhythmic orchestral music in a way unlike anything you've experienced before. They infuse electrifying sound into an inherently electric book, igniting sparks!

Line-up:
Søren Ulrik Thomsen: narrator
Det Glemte Kvarter: music
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra: music
Jan Lynggaard Sørensen: conductor
Mikkel Borrisholt Grevsen: composer
Christian Balvig/Mikkel Borrisholt Grevsen: arrangements
Christian Balvig: sheet music

About Søren Ulrik Thomsen
Since his debut with City Slang in 1981, Søren Ulrik Thomsen has held a unique status among both readers and critics. His work has transitioned from exploring a mythologized urban environment in the 1980s to a more religious and epistemological realm in the 1990s, eventually achieving the status of a widely admired poet in the 2000s. After a nine-year hiatus, he released the poetry collection Shaken Mirror (Rystet spejl) in 2011 and followed it with the text collection A Hairpin Stuck Behind the Panel (En hårnål klemt inde bag panelet) in 2016. Thomsen’s authorship is an extraordinary collection of poetic, insightful, and sensory works that, combined with essays and poetic theories, testify to a significant and indispensable contribution to literature. Most recently, he published the memoir essay Store Kongensgade 23 in 2021.

About Mikkel Borrisholt Grevsen
Musician and composer Mikkel Borrisholt Grevsen works freely across genres. Cross-aesthetics have always played a significant role in his artistic endeavors, ranging from solo projects to larger interdisciplinary collaborations. In addition to his work with Søren Ulrik Thomsen & Det Glemte Kvarter, he is behind the band INTET ALTID (with poet Caspar Eric) and the solo project figur, which is currently working on a ballet and a new commissioned piece for figur and accordionist Bjarke Mogensen. Grevsen is also the creator of formats such as Poetry & Sound, Classical on the Kiss Steps, Classical on the Quay, and Classical on the Edge.

About Det Glemte Kvarter
Søren Ulrik Thomsen and Det Glemte Kvarter have collaborated since 2010, creating a new approach to blending music and literature by incorporating performing arts, film, and both rhythmic and classical music. Over the past 13 years, they have developed a bold, cross-aesthetic universe, collaborating with renowned cultural institutions such as Aarhus Sinfonietta and Den Frie Udstillingsbygning. They have released four albums, performed countless concerts, and won a Danish Music Award for their collaboration. In 2022, Søren Ulrik Thomsen & Det Glemte Kvarter released two albums and presented their audio-poetic work, For a Moment It Felt Like All This Would Disappear (Et øjeblik var det som om alt dette skulle forsvinde), which was exhibited and performed at Den Frie Udstillingsbygning.

About Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
Founded in 1977 by Jens Klüver, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra has evolved from a hobby big band to one of the leading big bands on the Scandinavian jazz scene. In 2012, the orchestra rebranded and expanded its activities to include concerts, educational outreach, and talent development across genres and disciplines. Performing over 80 concerts annually for a diverse audience of all ages, the orchestra features some of the finest musicians in Danish jazz. They have collaborated with prominent jazz icons and received multiple awards, including Danish Music Awards Jazz and the JazzDanmark Prize. Supported by Aarhus Municipality and the Danish Arts Foundation, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra is Denmark’s only rhythmic base ensemble.