Kenneth Knudson recently released an album titled Uummat which was inspired by working on the Western Greenland island of Uummannaq.

Knudsen was exposed to the vast, calm and awe-inspiring natural surroundings, which were the first catalyst for a new set of compositions. Soon, a second incidence added a new dimension to the music. During a dinner with the leader of the local orphanage, Knudsen was invited to read from author Lise Andersen’s book Uummat - Stories from the heart, a book documenting the personal experiences of neglect of children from the orphanage. Third, Kenneth encountered the rich Greenlandic folklore in the recently published Bestiarium Groenlandica - an illustrated handbook of mythical beings, spirits and animals.

We talk about the inspiration for this album, his continually evolving compositional style, what the pandemic has been like for him, his upcoming trio project, and much more.

Enjoy, and be sure to check out Uummat and follow along with Kenneth’s work on his website and Instagram!

 

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Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion
• theme music by Eric Hochberg