2011 · Album
Mitt Hjerte Altid Vanker – I – Live At Oslo Jazzfestival
Recorded Live at Oslo Jazzfestival, 2011 · Losen Records · Leader: Jon Christensen
Live at Oslo, Heart Always Wandering
Christensen's drumming anchors the ensemble while giving everyone room to breathe and explore.
Jon Christensen brought his Open ensemble to the Oslo Jazzfestival for a live performance that captures the group in its element — responsive, inventive, and clearly enjoying the conversation happening on stage. The recording documents a working band with real chemistry, the kind that only develops through repeated playing together. Christensen's drumming is central here; he's not filling space but actively shaping the music, listening hard to what's happening around him and responding with precision and restraint.
The album's title, taken from a Norwegian hymn, hints at something spiritual in the approach without ever sounding sanctimonious. What comes through is genuine ensemble playing — no one soloist dominates, and the interactions feel earned rather than rehearsed. Ingebrigt Håker Flaten on bass and the other players work as a collective, creating textures and conversations that shift throughout each piece. This is Christensen's project, but it never feels like anyone's backing band.
For listeners familiar with Christensen's work as a sideman and bandleader over decades, this live document shows him still engaged and listening intently well into his career. It's a solid addition to his discography rather than a turning point, and it works best for people already curious about his recent projects. The recording quality is clean without being sterile, capturing the immediacy of a festival performance where the musicians had something to prove.
