# Different Rivers

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***Different Rivers*** is an album by Norwegian jazz saxophonist [Trygve Seim](/source/Trygve_Seim), released on [ECM Records](/source/ECM_Records).[3] Released in 2000, *Different Rivers* was Seim's solo debut for ECM Records and began his long association with the label, as both a leader and sideman.[4]

The album was recorded and produced throughout 1998 and 1999 and, unusually, without the direct production assistance of ECM founder, [Manfred Eicher](/source/Manfred_Eicher).[5] Instead the album was recorded at one of Eicher's favoured [Oslo](/source/Oslo) studios using long-serving ECM audio engineer [Jan Erik Kongshaug](/source/Jan_Erik_Kongshaug).[6] Eicher is credited as 'executive producer'.[7]

*Different Rivers* is noted for establishing Seim's jazz aesthetic, entailing unusual arrangements and instrumentation, as well as infusing classical and Eastern influences.[8][6]

## Reception

Warmly received by many jazz critics upon release,[1][8] *Different Rivers* won the German Record Critics Prize, "Jahrespreis – Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik" in 2001[2][9][4] and is frequently considered a landmark album in ECM's recording catalogue.[10][11][1]

In a 5-star review for *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*, [John Fordham](/source/John_Fordham_(jazz_critic)) wrote that *Different Rivers* was "destined to become one of ECM's classics", describing the album as falling into the [free jazz](/source/Free_jazz) idiom while revealing Seim to be an "up-tempo [Wayne Shorter](/source/Wayne_Shorter) playing [Ben Webster](/source/Ben_Webster)".[1] Jazz musician and author, [Mike Zwerin](/source/Mike_Zwerin), was similarly enthused by the album. Writing in *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* he declared *Different Rivers* to be both melancholic and hypnotizing, describing the listening experience as "like a fireplace in an ice palace, you get hooked on it; it's almost physical".[8]

Seim's impressionistic jazz aesthetic was not universally appreciated, with *[Jazz Times](/source/Jazz_Times)* describing *Different Rivers* more negatively, as "new-age jazz, mostly composed, with ultraslow tempos and almost immobile lines".[12] *Different Rivers* nevertheless continues to attract positive jazz criticism. In revisiting the album's ECM Touchstone Series re-release, the *[Jazz Journal](/source/Jazz_Journal)* described *Different Rivers* as "...a masterclass in precision and control ... a most remarkable achievement".[3]

The landmark album status of *Different Rivers* was celebrated in 2010 when Seim's composition, 'Ulrikas Dans', was selected for inclusion on [Arild Andersen's](/source/Arild_Andersen) *Celebration* album, alongside those of seminal ECM artists, including [Keith Jarrett](/source/Keith_Jarrett), [Jan Garbarek](/source/Jan_Garbarek), [Dave Holland](/source/Dave_Holland_(bassist)), and [Chick Corea](/source/Chick_Corea).[13] Recorded with [Tommy Smith](/source/Tommy_Smith_(saxophonist)) and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, *Celebrations* was devised as a contribution to ECM's 40th anniversary celebrations.[14][15] *Different Rivers* was later one of 50 ECM albums selected for re-release under the 'Touchstone Series', to celebrate the label's 50th anniversary.[16]

## Track listing

All tracks composed [Trygve Seim](/source/Trygve_Seim).

1. "Sorrows" - 6:27
1. "Ulrikas Dans" - 7:49
1. "Intangible Waltz" - 5:47
1. "Different Rivers" - 5:51
1. "Bhavana" - 4:23
1. "The Aftermath/African Sunrise" - 6:16
1. "Search Silence" - 0:50
1. "For Edward" - 5:33
1. "Breathe" - 9:19
1. "Between" - 2:18

## Personnel

- [Trygve Seim](/source/Trygve_Seim) - Tenor and soprano saxophones
- [Arve Henriksen](/source/Arve_Henriksen) - Trumpet, trumpophone, vocals
- [Håvard Lund](/source/H%C3%A5vard_Lund) - Clarinet, bass clarinet
- Nils Jansen - Bass and sopranino saxophones, contrabass clarinet
- [Hild Sofie Tafjord](/source/Hild_Sofie_Tafjord) - French horn
- [David Gald](/source/David_Gald) - Tuba
- [Stian Carstensen](/source/Stian_Carstensen) - Accordion
- Bernt Simen Lund - Cello
- Morten Hannisdal - Cello
- [Per Oddvar Johansen](/source/Per_Oddvar_Johansen) - Drums
- [Paal Nilssen-Love](/source/Paal_Nilssen-Love) - Drums
- [Øyvind Brække](/source/%C3%98yvind_Br%C3%A6kke) - Trombone
- [Sidsel Endresen](/source/Sidsel_Endresen) - Recitation
- [Jan Erik Kongshaug](/source/Jan_Erik_Kongshaug) - Engineer
- [Trygve Seim](/source/Trygve_Seim), [Christian Wallumrød](/source/Christian_Wallumr%C3%B8d), and [Øyvind Brække](/source/%C3%98yvind_Br%C3%A6kke) - Producer
- [Manfred Eicher](/source/Manfred_Eicher) - Executive producer

## References

1. Fordham, John (2000). ["He did it Norway; John Fordham hails a master of tantric sax"](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2000/dec/15/shopping.jazz). *The Guardian*. No. Friday 15 December. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. ["Different Rivers - Trygve Seim"](https://ecmrecords.com/product/different-rivers-trygve-seim/). *ECM Records*. ecmrecords.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.

1. Adams, Simon (2019). ["Trygve Seim: Different Rivers"](https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/08/08/trygve-seim-different-rivers/). *Jazz Journal*. No. 8 August. Jazz Journal. Retrieved 14 April 2023.

1. Kjell Kalleklev Management AS. ["Trygve Seim"](https://kalleklev.no/trygve-seim/). *Kjell Kalleklev Management AS*. Kjell Kalleklev Management AS. Retrieved 23 March 2023.

1. Grillo, Tyran (2013). ["Trygve Seim: Different Rivers (ECM 1744)"](https://ecmreviews.com/2013/08/13/different-rivers/). *Between Sound and Space: ECM Records and Beyond*. No. August 13. Between Sound and Space: ECM Records and Beyond. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

1. Kelman, John (2005). ["Trygve Seim: Innovative Vanguard Of A New Wave"](https://www.allaboutjazz.com/trygve-seim-vanguard-of-a-new-wave-trygve-seim-by-john-kelman). *AllAboutJazz*. No. March 15. AllAboutJazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. ["Trygve Seim – Different Rivers"](https://www.discogs.com/release/1557892-Trygve-Seim-Different-Rivers). *Discogs*. Discogs. 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. Zwerin, Mike (2001). ["Trygve Seim's Improvisations : A Norwegian Gazes East"](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/28/style/IHT-trygve-seims-improvisations-a-norwegian-gazes-east.html). *The New York Times*. No. March 28. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. Seim, Trygve (2016). ["Trygve Seim: musician & composer"](http://www.trygveseim.com/biography/). *Trygve Seim*. trygveseim.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.

1. Waring, Charles (2022). ["Best ECM Albums: 50 Must-Hear Classics From The Legendary Jazz Label"](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-ecm-albums/). *uDiscover Music*. No. November 24. uDiscover Music. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. McCooey, David (2020). ["Simplicity and quiet: my isolation playlist from ECM Records"](https://theconversation.com/simplicity-and-quiet-my-isolation-playlist-from-ecm-records-143595). *The Conversation*. No. August 05. The Conversation Trust (UK) Limited. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. Litweiler, John (2001). ["Trygve Seim: Different Rivers"](https://jazztimes.com/archives/trygve-seim-different-rivers/). *Jazz Times*. No. November 01. Madavor Media, LLC. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

1. Grillo, Tyran (2013). ["Arild Andersen: Celebration (ECM 2259)"](https://ecmreviews.com/2013/06/21/celebration/). *Between Sound and Space: ECM Records and Beyond*. No. July 21. Between Sound and Space: ECM Records and Beyond. Retrieved 29 April 2023.

1. Bevan, Peter (2012). ["Arild Andersen, Tommy Smith & Scottish National Jazz Orchestra/Celebration (ECM 279 0947)"](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/culture/9827840.arild-andersen-tommy-smith-scottish-national-jazz-orchestra-celebration-ecm-279-0947/). *The Northern Echo*. No. 19 July. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 20 April 2023.

1. Adams, Rob (2012). ["Arild Andersen/Tommy Smith & Scottish National Jazz Orchestra: Celebration (ECM)"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/13064497.arild-andersen-tommy-smith-scottish-national-jazz-orchestra-celebration-ecm/). *The Herald*. No. 8 July. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 20 April 2023.

1. ["ECM Records – 25 neue "Touchstones" zum Sonderpreis"](https://www.jazzecho.de/ecm-sounds/news-und-rezensionen/ecm-records-25-neue-touchstones-zum-sonderpreis-254829). *Jazz Echo*. No. 16 May. Jazz Echo. 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

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