After a decade of recording and gigging as one of Europe’s hardest swinging and most dynamic jazz trios, powerhouse drummer Gard Nilssen and his Acoustic Unity suddenly felt an urge to expand their scope, both musically and artistically.

So, as a ten-year anniversary present to themselves, André Roligheten (saxophones), Petter Eldh (bass) and Nilssen booked a week worth of studio time in the remote but renown music studio Ocean Sound on the windblown Norwegian West coast. To compete with the wild weather gods of the North, the trio brought with them two other forces of nature: saxophonists Signe Emmeluth and Kjetil Møster. Both being stand out players on the thriving Norwegian jazz scene, they had already been regular guests with Gard and the gang on several concert stages across the world; and were both ready to take on the challenge of expanding GNAU’s musical universe.

The studio engineers hardly managed to press record before the new quintet was sparking on all plugs–flying off into the musical spheres of the Aurora Borealis flickering above the studio roof.

Great Intentions is a record about communication. About good intentions gone bad, and bumpy roads paved with them. Intentions and expectations failing miserably, both on a
personal level and on a greater scale. People not being able to talk to each other, and a world lost in a sea of words, unable to find its right recipients.
“Music is the healing force of the universe”, a sentiment borrowed from Albert Ayler, has become Gard’s signature phrase, and sums up the band’s belief in music as the common language we all can understand. This belief comes to the fore on Great Intentions, and as both a challenge and an ice breaker, all five members were invited to bring one tune each to the sessions. The result is a marvelously diverse and lively sounding album, representing five very different, but extremely receptive players, fully able to use music as a way of communicating with an audience. A dialogue not only reserved for the sessions in Ocean Sound or the concert stage, but as a way of talking through time and space.

Inspired by Ornette Coleman, Charlie Parker, Fela Kuti, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Haden, Chris McGregor, Dollar Brand, Paul Motian, Tony Williams, and Elvin Jones (to name but a few!), GNAU’s common language is a place where traditions meet the contemporary – history merges with the future. Add that to a heartwarming rendition of Paul McCartney’s “Waterfalls” and you’ll find an album for the ages.

Great Intentions was recorded in Ocean Sound, mixed by Jørgen Træen in Bergen and the artwork was designed by Nick Alexander. The album is GNAU’s second release on the independent jazz label Action Jazz this year, following their limited edition 10-inch vinyl EP Live at The Barbican released in May. The album release will be followed up with a string of concerts by the expanded group across Norway and Europe in December
(2025), January and February (2026)