| Jazz |
Summary: On Crossing Currents, Danish trio Little North joins forces with vibraphonist Joel Ross and saxophonist Hannes Bennich to deliver one of the most compelling contemporary jazz albums of the year. Recorded at Brooklyn’s Bunker Studio, this richly textured release blends Nordic lyricism with New York’s creative energy, resulting in a timeless and deeply original musical statement.
Little North & Joel Ross, Crossing Currents: A Decade in the Making and a Bold New Voice in Contemporary Jazz
Some album concepts take years to fully reveal themselves. In the case of Little North, the journey has spanned an entire decade. Ten years ago, the Danish trio released Yonder, a record that already hinted at an ambitious artistic vision and a desire to explore musical territories beyond conventional boundaries. Looking back, Yonder now feels like the opening chapter of a much larger story, one whose themes have continued to evolve through years of touring, experimentation, and artistic encounters. At the end of this June, that story reaches a new milestone with the release of Crossing Currents, an album that feels less like a follow-up and more like the culmination of years of growth, exploration, and creative dialogue.
In the years separating these two releases, Little North ventured far beyond their Scandinavian roots, immersing themselves in New York’s vibrant and ever-evolving jazz scene. There, they absorbed influences from a wide range of musicians, performances, and artistic communities. Along the way, they found a collaborator who seemed destined to become part of their story: vibraphonist Joel Ross, one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz and a musician frequently mentioned alongside the generation that is reshaping the language of modern jazz. Much like artists such as Immanuel Wilkins, Marquis Hill, and Makaya McCraven have expanded the possibilities of the genre, Ross has established himself as an artist capable of balancing tradition and innovation without sacrificing either.
Although Little North remains fundamentally Danish in identity, the cultural exchange at the heart of Crossing Currents only deepens the music’s emotional and artistic reach. Rather than diluting the trio’s character, the meeting of European and American sensibilities enriches it. Throughout the album, Ross and Little North appear to develop a shared language, one built on curiosity, trust, and a collective pursuit of originality.
That commitment extended even to the recording process itself. The album was recorded at the legendary Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, a venue whose reputation extends far beyond New York’s boroughs. Over the years, the studio has become a creative sanctuary for adventurous musicians seeking an environment where experimentation and precision can coexist. Its history is deeply intertwined with the development of contemporary jazz and improvised music, making it an especially fitting setting for a project built on artistic exchange and exploration. Recording there was more than a logistical decision. It was a statement of intent.
“For us, Joel Ross simply embodies that universe,” says Jacobsen. “His approach is clear intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. It is rooted in respect, and he has an extraordinary gift for beautiful melodies. There is something about his energy that constantly looks forward. That is exactly what we were searching for on this album.”
The truth is that Little North hardly arrived at this point as newcomers. Their debut was already an impressive statement of intent. Yet ten years of touring, performing, and engaging with other musicians have sharpened the group’s creative instincts and strengthened their distinctive voice. The result is a band that sounds more confident, more adventurous, and more contemporary than ever before.
Those years also forged lasting relationships within the international jazz community. One of those connections led to the participation of a second guest on the album, Swedish saxophonist Hannes Bennich, a musician who has crossed paths with Little North since the earliest days of the trio.
“We had already worked with Hannes on other projects,” explains Lasse Jacobsen. “Here, he almost became a creative sparring partner for Joel Ross. He brought his own energy to the sessions. He is a true virtuoso, someone with a deep understanding of and affinity for the musical language that Ross represents. We also needed someone capable of entering a recording session with confidence and contributing a distinctive voice. Hannes was the perfect person for that.”
What distinguishes Crossing Currents most clearly from the group’s previous work is its sense of presence. If earlier recordings often felt like invitations to travel through imagined landscapes, this album feels grounded in a specific artistic moment. Little North does not merely draw inspiration from New York; they establish themselves within that tradition while maintaining a remarkable sense of authenticity. The result is music that feels refreshingly singular in today’s jazz landscape.
Listening closely, one can sense an almost palpable communion between the musicians. There is a shared purpose that elevates the compositions far beyond their original framework. The arrangements are particularly striking in this respect, revealing a collective intelligence that makes it increasingly difficult to identify a single indispensable contributor. Rather than functioning as a trio accompanied by guests, Little North often sounds like a fully integrated quintet that has been performing together for years.
That impression may be one of the album’s greatest achievements. Every musician appears essential to the whole. Every contribution feels necessary. The chemistry is so natural that one could easily imagine this ensemble gracing the stages of major jazz festivals on both sides of the Atlantic. Their interaction suggests not a temporary collaboration but the foundation of something built to endure.
The track “Say” perhaps captures the spirit of the album most completely. Built around an elegant dialogue between the ensemble’s European lyricism and the rhythmic confidence associated with contemporary American jazz, the composition serves as a microcosm of the entire project. It embodies the record’s embrace of multiple cultural influences while demonstrating a level of cohesion and control that never feels forced.
Several other moments reinforce the album’s strengths. The quieter passages reveal Little North’s remarkable command of atmosphere and space, while the more expansive sections showcase the group’s ability to balance intricate structures with a sense of spontaneity. Throughout the record, there is a refusal to choose between accessibility and sophistication. Instead, the musicians allow melody, improvisation, and texture to coexist naturally, creating music that rewards repeated listening.
By contrast, the album’s closing track, “Heart Plant,” feels like a return to the group’s cultural origins. It reconnects with the Nordic sensibility that has always been present in Little North’s music while benefiting from everything the band has learned along the way. It is also precisely the kind of composition that audiences will remember long after a concert ends, the sort of piece capable of generating encore demands and lingering emotional resonance.
Ultimately, Little North offers something increasingly rare: a genuinely new sound created by musicians who are both inspired and inspiring. This is not an album that seeks immediate accessibility at all costs. It rewards attentive listening and will likely resonate most deeply with listeners who possess a broad musical curiosity or a strong familiarity with the language of contemporary jazz.
Yet even those encountering the group for the first time may find themselves drawn into its world. By choosing an entirely acoustic approach, Little North has crafted a record that feels remarkably resistant to passing trends. Crossing Currents is not simply a document of a particular moment or scene. It is an album with the qualities necessary to age gracefully, one whose depth and craftsmanship seem destined to remain intact for many years to come.
More importantly, it may ultimately be remembered as the record that fully defined Little North’s artistic identity. If Yonder introduced the possibilities and ambitions of the trio, Crossing Currents realizes them with striking clarity. It captures a band at the intersection of experience, confidence, and inspiration, producing a work that feels both timely and enduring. For a group that has spent a decade refining its voice, this may well prove to be the album against which all future releases are measured.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, June 5th, 2026
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To buy this album
CD / Vinyl / digital
Musicians :
Lasse Jacobsen: drums
Martin Brunbjerg Rasmussen: double bass
Benjamin Nørholm Jacobsen: piano
Joel Ross: vibraphone
Hannes Bennich: saxophone
Track Listing :
Friend
Into Insanity
Hold On
I Hope We Meet Here Again
Ross
Say
When We Break
Heart Plant
Recorded 19-20 November 2023 at The Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NYC
Recorded by Nolan Thies
Mixed by August Wanngren
Mastered by Sofia von Hage and Thomas Eberger at Stockholm Mastering
Composed by Little North
Produced by Little North
Co-produced by Joel Ross