Reviews of "Martha's Dance"
All That... (Denmark) 5 stars of 6
"...over the course of seven colorful compositions from Thofte's hand, you just have to lie down flat in admiration. Shit, it sounds good!"
Jazz-fun.de (Germany)
"...Rolf Thofte presents himself not only as an excellent trumpeter, but also as a sensitive composer. His clear tone and the ease of his improvisational expression characterize the album from the very first track."
Jazz in Family (Italy)
"With this work, Rolf Thofte presents himself as a writer and performer to follow, capable of moving the body and touching the listener's most intimate chords."
Era Jazzu (Poland)
Jazz Views (Denmark)
"...exactly the kind of interplay that makes this quintet work: everyone knows their role, but nobody’s afraid to stretch.
This kind of musical conversation doesn’t happen by accident—it’s rooted in Thofte’s long musical journey."
All About Jazz
"When musicians are inspired, it shows. Danish trumpeter Rolf Thofte deftly takes the reins of leadership on Martha's Dance. Dedicated to his daughter, the release has an accessible jazz style to it for a diverse audience. Though there is some free styling here and there, the tracks are well composed and keep the listener engaged. These seven compositions are further accentuated by some of Scandinavia's exceptionally talented musicians"
Jazznyt (Denmark)
"A big thank you to trumpeter Rolf Thofte for putting together this superb quintet that plays jazz with a capital J and with so much heart and soul that it can be felt even before the record lands on the turntable."
DR P8 Jazz - Album of the week
"Martha's Dance" is a superb, cohesive debut, rooted in tradition yet brimming with innovative ideas that secure Rolf Thofte's quintet a firm place in the European jazz scene."
Jazzitalia
"Martha's Dance is an album that marks the birth of an already accomplished composer. Thofte successfully blends the tradition of European jazz with a fresh and personal perspective, one of poise, sensitivity, and compositional courage."
Donos Kulturalny (Poland)
"Martha's Dance" is a highly successful, thoughtful debut. It presents jazz that is open, personal, and melodic, demonstrating that a modern approach to composition doesn't have to mean cold detachment... Rolf Thofte certainly deserves the attention of both listeners and critics. I recommend it!"
Jazzwise (UK)
"It’s Thofte’s compositions with their shifting moods and textual variety that are the album’s strongest feature for this listener. Likeable and interesting: a good combination."
ukvibe (UK)
"Martha’s Dance marks Rolf Thofte as a quietly commanding new voice on the European jazz landscape."