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Marbles is a reference to marble runs, and marble runs are for Iversen an image of things finding their own, natural way. Like running water that always finds a path, or the neurons in our brain that find new ways if known paths get disrupted. Like the compositional writing process for this album, which took turns and twists, often through the imposed obstructions, the best marble runs contain multiple paths for the marbles to get to the goal, and all of that is an important part of this album, multiple ways. “Many of the compositions on Marbles have multiple layers, multiple levels and ways of being understood. In musical terms these are: multiple rhythmic layers, like the A-sections of ‘Threefold’ which is playing with both cross-rhythms and anticipations; multiple melodies, like on ‘Double Arches’, ‘Square Root of a Dream’ and ‘Marble for Minor’; and on ‘Two Twisted Spires’ there are even multiple layers of harmony in play, simultaneously. And of course there are sections with multiple, collective, solos telling parallel and multiple stories simultaneously,” explains Iversen.
Marbles embodies the idea that music, like life, flows and grows through interaction and discovery. It is a record built for repeat listening — complex yet inviting, sophisticated yet alive with spontaneity.
The Musicians Of Marbles:
Silke Eberhard – Alto Saxophone: Berlin-based saxophonist Silke Eberhard is a powerful presence in contemporary jazz — transparent and biting in equal measure. Recipient of the 2020 Jazzpreis Berlin and a multi-year DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star, she tours globally and remains a core innovator on the European scene.
Julius Gawlik – Clarinet, Alto Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone: A rising voice in jazz and experimental music, Gawlik has performed at top venues including Berliner Philharmonie and Bimhuis Amsterdam, and collaborated with artists such as Jim Black, John Hollenbeck, and Ensemble Modern. His contributions bring refined texture and depth to Marbles.
Percy Pursglove – Trumpet & Flugelhorn: British-born, multi-instrumentalist, Pursglove brings a rare mix of improvisational freedom and compositional depth. A member of the NDR Big Band, he performs internationally and holds a PhD in choral compositional techniques, enriching his trumpet voice with layered musical insight.
Geoffroy De Masure – Trombone: With a résumé that includes work with Steve Coleman, Charlie Haden, and Joe Lovano, De Masure draws on global influences, rhythm studies, and microtonal explorations. He is Professor of Jazz Trombone at the Jazz Institute Berlin.
Morris Kliphuis – French Horn: Dutch French horn player and composer Kliphuis brings an adventurous approach to a traditionally classical instrument. Known for his work with the trio Kapok, and for his use of electronics and extended techniques, he adds both subtlety and surprise to the ensemble.
Roland Schneider – Drums: Schneider's 17 years in NYC gave him deep roots in modern jazz. Now based in Berlin, he continues to tour and collaborate with leading artists including Anat Fort (ECM) and Rigmor Gustafsson, combining groove with sensitive, reactive playing.
Anne Mette Iversen is a Danish bassist, composer, and bandleader whose work has helped shape modern jazz composition on both sides of the Atlantic. Known for her genre-defying fluency and formal elegance, she seamlessly integrates elements of jazz and classical music while maintaining the spirit of improvisation at the heart of her sound.
Iversen began her career in New York City, where she moved in 1998 and launched her first major projects. In 2012 she relocated to Berlin, embracing the city’s collaborative and experimental jazz scene. Her extensive discography includes twelve albums as a leader, spanning a wide range of ensembles and artistic visions — from intimate quartets to jazz/classical crossover projects and full big band commissions.
Her current work includes:
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The long-running Anne Mette Iversen Quartet+1, a quintet known for its lyrical, structurally intricate style.
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Ternion Quartet, based in Berlin and rooted in tightly woven ensemble interplay.
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Double Life, a collaboration between her jazz quintet and the 4Corners String Quartet.
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Poetry of Earth, ‘art songs’ in a jazz chamber music setting, blending literature and music.
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And now, Ternion Q Expanded, her latest artistic evolution, bringing together seven top-tier musicians from across Europe.
Iversen was Composer in Residence with Sweden’s Norrbotten Big Band in 2016 and continues to work as a guest composer and conductor with big bands across Europe. She has also curated and performed special events for the Royal Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Danish Consulate General in New York.
Academically, Iversen holds the position of Professor of Jazz Composition and Arranging at the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück, Germany. She also teaches bass, theory, and ear training. In 2021, she was appointed Director of the Jazz Department, and in 2024, Dean of Studies at the Institute of Music.
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