They clicked immediately when they exchanged messages on Twitter in the beginning of 2013. That summer, Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs and bass clarinet player Maarten Ornstein played their first concert at Reykjavik Jazz Festival, one day after their first encounter in person.
They liked playing together and the reactions were amazing, so they decided to record an album of original compositions in Iceland. The result was Unspoken, a record full of spacious and unconstrained performances. Its follow-up is expected this year. Shortly before the recording of that second album, the duo will perform at the BIMHUIS together with double bassist Tony Overwater.
‘With a marvellous air of freshness in their lithe melody-making, Amsterdam-based bass clarinettist Maarten Ornstein and Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs played duets of superb assurance and lyrical gracefulness and when they were joined by bassist Tony Overwater, forming a trio of fabulous shape and assurance that was all about quiet unshowy skill and immediately personal audience engagement’ (London Jazz News).
Sunna Gunnlaugs piano. Maarten Ornstein sax, Tony Overwater bass