The first reviews of Turkis have arrived

Dear friends,

Releasing an album is always a very personal experience. You live with the music for such a long time—writing, listening, changing, recording and finally letting it go out into the world without knowing exactly how it will be received.

That is why I have been genuinely moved by the response to my new album, Turkis.

The album has now received reviews from Denmark, Germany, Poland, the UK, France and the United States. Reading how different listeners experience the melodies, the silence, the rhythms and the sound of my violin has been both touching and encouraging.

Turkis is my most personal album to date. It grew from a search for openness, connection and the universal melody—the kind of melody that can bring us together when words are no longer enough.

I would love to share some of the reviews with you:

“Turkis is one of those fully realised albums which—like Jazz på Svenska—has the potential to achieve classic status. Perhaps not the same sales figures as Jan Johansson’s landmark album, but the qualities of Turkis truly stand in line.”

— IVAN ROD, DENMARK ★★★★★

“Danish violinist Bjarke Falgren is one of those special musicians where there’s no apparent separation between heart, mind, and fingers, his expressions emerging as naturally as the blood pulsing through his body. His playing is like that of an eloquent speaker who, naturally inclined to keep his voice low, draws listeners in all the more intently to catch every word.”

— TEXTURA.ORG, USA

“Turkis is a beautiful album from start to finish. It rises from the very first composition, like a sunrise in my listening room—bright, warm and soothing. It is music that prioritizes tone, phrasing, and space, rich with emotion, peace and love. As I listen, I rest in the tranquillity of his musical moments. Falgren’s playing and presentation have a calming effect on the heart and soul.”

— DEE DEE MCNEIL, MAKING A SCENE, USA

“A gift for capturing atmospheres with precision, almost like a filmmaker working in sound.”

— THIERRY DE CLEMENSAT, PARIS-MOVE, FRANCE

“A voice of his own—abundant melody, beauty of expression, and a perfect balance between structure and freedom.”

— WOLFGANG GIESE, MUSIK AN SICH, GERMANY

“Magical bow strokes and memorable melodies rooted in Scandinavian and Latin American folk music. A successful release that more than fulfils expectations of deeply personal instrumental mastery and a sense of the good melody.”

— JØRGEN NIELSEN, ALL THAT, DENMARK

“A beautifully resonant and melodic album that takes its time. Falgren builds a beautiful, original universe where the violin finds new paths. They can certainly swing, but speak even more to the heart than to the feet.”

— NIELS OVERGÅRD, JAZZNYT, DENMARK

“A distinctive violin language—rooted in touch, breath, and an intimate relationship with the bow.”

— ERA JAZZU, POLAND

“Turkis is an album of passion and desire refracted through a prism of distance and yearning for something just out of reach. I can see why Bjarke waited for this set of songs to put his name to, and it is a delight from start to finish.”

— FREQ, UK

“Falgren’s sense of space is impressive. He treats silence and quiet passages not as interruptions but as active elements of his storytelling. The music does not seek to captivate through a constant succession of climaxes; instead, it gently invites the listener into its sonic landscape.”

— JAZZ-FUN.DE, GERMANY

“Bjarke Falgren is utterly captivating on the violin. A true virtuoso and a complete joy to hear.”

— DR P8 JAZZ, DENMARK

I feel incredibly grateful that the album has been received in this way. But most importantly, I am grateful to all of you who listen to the music, share it with others, write to me and come to our concerts.

Music only truly comes alive when it is shared—and thank you for allowing Turkis to become part of your lives.

If you haven’t listened to the album yet—or would like to hear it again—you can find it here:

LISTEN TO TURKIS

Thank you for listening and for being part of this journey.

With love,
Bjarke