Record Reviews

BE4EIGHT ~ 11X13 NOT ON LABEL ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Czech multi-instrumentalist / composer Jacob Carl RuzickaFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Be4EightFind albums by this artist) recorded mostly by himself with the help of several Czech and international musicians, including American (born in Pakistan) guitarist Rez AbbasiFind albums by this artist, Norwegian trumpeter Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist and Czech vocalist Iva BittovaFind albums by this artist among others. The album presents thirteen tracks, all composed by Ruzicka. The music presents a wide spectrum of influences, and although basically can be classified as Jazz oriented, it also includes Pop, Ambient and World Music influences, which in today’s world is completely natural. There is a solid melodic background to all of the tunes, which is very skillfully expanded into improvisations and Ambient soundscapes, creating a sort of cinematic soundtrack, which lets the listener to write his own scenario. The tracks were put together very carefully in the studio, creating an ensemble ambience, although basically being a one-man show, which can be credited to the production talents by Ruzicka. The musical and instrumental diversity of the tunes creates a pleasant and interesting musical trip, which flows naturally and is definitely worth being investigated. It has a contemporary aural atmosphere, which is a bit too synthesized for my old-fashioned ears, which would prefer more acoustic instruments to be involved, but that is quite a minor point in the general picture. Overall, this is a very interesting piece of music, which shows great skill and good taste of its creator, producing a pleasant, well performed stream of mostly instrumental music and a few songs in between, which flows gently, but keeps the listener interested for the duration. Definitely well done and worth investigation!

Updated: 10/04/2023Posted: 10/04/2023

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ELLEN BODTKER / JAN ERIK VOLD ~ SOMMEREN DER UTE LOSEN 150 (Barcode: 7090025831508) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 Anybody reading my reviews should be aware by now of my compelling sympathy towards the Jazz & Poetry idiom, which means that this album was at the focus of my attention even before I heard the first note, since it presents the celebrated Norwegian harpist Ellen BodtkerFind albums by this artist, who accompanies the fascinating lyric poet Jan Erik VoldFind albums by this artist, who recites his poetry. It also features trumpeter Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist and percussionist Eirik RaudeFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eighteen pieces, twelve of which have music composed by Bodtker and three each composed by Henriksen and Raude. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and was engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. Vold´s flirt with Jazz goes way back to the early days of his literary career and he recorded already in the 1960s with the famous saxophonist Jan Garbarek and later on with many other famous Jazz musicians. For a fascinating glimpse of these early recordings please check out the Box Set: "Vokal – The Complete Recordings 1966–1977Find albums with this title" released in 2009. Of course the classically trained Bodtker does not play Jazz in the strict definition of the genre, but who cares. Her music, although often Classically influenced, is open enough to find a place well within the expanded boundaries of what we call "Jazz" these days, which is as it should be. She is among the very few harp players who can swing, so she´s definitely "our cup of tea". Of course Henriksen is a bona fide Jazz musician and his magical trumpet, which sounds like the fakir´s flute or an Akira KurosawaFind albums by this artist shakuhachi laced soundtrack, bonds the music with the centre of the Jazz experience. Raude, also classically trained, is obviously also open to all the various musical worlds, contributes his delicate and sympathetic touches sparingly but always right where they are needed. Vold recites his poetry in Norwegian, which of course limits the understanding of the actual meaning of his poetry to the Norwegian speaking audience, but as I always say poetry has the power to transcend the boundaries of language and his voice can be accepted as simply another acoustic aspect of this music, and his reciting as a kind of vocalese, for all those non-Norwegian speaking listeners. This album is a wonderful tribute to Vold´s poetry, and sonically a fascinating journey through the many facets of contemporary music, which blends and amalgamates genres, traditions and influences into the new European aesthetics of the 21st Century. Wholeheartedly recommended to the pursuers of non-trivial Cultural experiences!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 16/02/2016

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

GINE GAUSTAD ANDERSSEN ~ HEIM LOSEN 165 (Barcode: 7090025831652) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Norwegian vocalist / pianist / songwriter Gine Gaustad AnderssenFind albums by this artist, on which she is supported by a Norwegian / Swedish team of musicians: guitarist Carl Emil SvenssonFind albums by this artist, bassists Fredrik NilssonFind albums by this artist and Johannes LundbergFind albums by this artist, drummers Hermund NygardFind albums by this artist and Martin OhmanFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Thomas GustafssonFind albums by this artist. She performs eight songs, six of which are composed by her and feature her lyrics, one song features her lyrics to an Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist composition and one song is by Norwegian singer / songwriter Kari BremnesFind albums by this artist. The lyrics are in Norwegian and in English. The songs are all stunningly beautiful, intimate and lyrical and the vocalist performs them with a minimalistic accompaniment mostly of just guitar, bass and drums. On some songs her voice is multi-tracked to create a vocal harmony effect. The entire album is soaked in deep melancholy and introvert unfussiness, which is immensely effective, using a most convincing "more is less" modus operandi. Although not Jazz per se, this music is closely associated with the Jazz idiom, as it possesses an intrinsic feeling of Swing, and of course the presence of the Jazz musicians on board also makes a significant impact. Regardless of the labeling one might associate with this album, it is a true joy and I wish many more albums like that were recorded. Overall this is a very unique collection of gorgeous songs, performed by a great team of musicians and sung by the person who composed the material, in a most non-pretentious personal way, which makes the listener´s heart melt. Loved every minute if it! Well done!

Updated: 31/01/2017Posted: 31/01/2017

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

JAN GUNNAR HOFF ~ FLY NORTH! LOSEN 119 (Barcode: 7090025831195) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the fourteenth recording as a leader by the celebrated Norwegian pianist / composer Jan Gunnar HoffFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with Norwegian trumpeter Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Anders JorminFind albums by this artist and Danish (born in US) drummer / percussionist Marilyn MazurFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Hoff. Recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, this album is the epitome of what is known as Scandinavian Jazz or Scandinavian Sound, popularized for decades by ECM Records. Characterized by slow, melancholic, introvert and minimalistic melody lines and delicate, rounded notes, that seem to be floating like leaves in the wind or flowers on the (icy) water, The Scandinavian Sound has many avid followers around the globe and honestly nobody even tries to mimic this unique phenomenon, not even the Chinese ;) Of course Scandinavian Sound is often criticized by (mostly American) Jazz fans and critics for being tedious and lacking the basic daring Jazz spirit of exploration and discovery. Sadly in some cases this is indeed true, but certainly the entire idiom is very far from that shortsighted criticism, and in many cases produces extraordinary music, full of intelligence and deep emotion, and proudly representing the multifaceted European Jazz. There is no doubt that this music, apart from being breathtakingly beautiful, is also very communicative. The ability of musicians to communicate with their audiences without compromising their artistic vision is often underestimated, and this album is a superb example of such a case. This music can be absorbed on many different levels, from the purely emotional to the deeply intellectual, with each of these levels having something magical to offer to the listener. Although the focus of the album is directed towards Hoff´s piano, which he plays with grace and virtuosity, the other members of the quartet also contribute enormously; Henriksen´s "flute-like" trumpet sound is absolutely unique and captivating, Jormin, who is one of my all times favorite bassists, plays marvelously and his long melodic lines are a balsam to the ears and finally Mazur is, as always, more ornamenting the proceedings with her delicate and wonderfully timed touches, rather than setting the rhythms. Overall this is an instant Scandinavian Sound classic, which was warmly received upon its release and surely will keep many listeners happy in years to come!

Updated: 08/03/2016Posted: 08/03/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DAVID KOLLAR / ARVE HENRIKSEN ~ ILLUSION OF A SEPARATE WORLD HEVHETIA 0178 (Barcode: 8588005258456) ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by a duo comprising of Slovak guitarist / composer David KollarFind albums by this artist and Norwegian trumpeter / composer Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist. It was recorded "virtually" over the Net, by exchanging files between the two musicians, and presents twelve original pieces co-composed by them. The music is quite difficult to categorize, as it flows freely between styles and genres. Since it also lacks a clear melodic content, it is ambient in nature and presents more moods and emotions rather than what most listeners consider as music in the straightforward sense of the idiom. Henriksen´s trumpet playing is the epitome of Nordic music, with lyrical and melancholic themes, while Kollar´s guitar, with extensive usage of electronics, is mostly incidental, ambient and cinematic in nature. However, when combined together, these two directions amalgamate splendidly, creating surprisingly evocative statements. Although music of such nature can be quite tedious and lethargic, this album manages to avoid that trap with elegance and a continuous listening, although requiring some effort, is eventually rewarding and even inviting. It is a good example of ambient music, which one can listen to more than once, revealing new layers of musical depth with each listening session. Kollar and Henriksen are both established musical phenomena and this album confirms their individual talents and cooperative skills, but does not offer any surprising new vistas, being more or less something the followers of these two musicians would expect to hear on the album. Nevertheless it is an elegant, highly aesthetic piece of sound-weaving, which has its faithful followers.

Updated: 17/08/2018Posted: 17/08/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ EURODYKA STM 009 (Barcode: 5906489287343) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the 11th album by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, recorded with a fabulous team of old and new friends, which include vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Paul RutschkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BakFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Mikolaj StankoFind albums by this artist. Norwegian trumpeter Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks, which he also arranged. Other guests include Portuguese vocalists Joao de SousaFind albums by this artist, Ukrainian vocalist Laura MartiFind albums by this artist and Hungarian clarinetist Daniel MesterFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, four composed by Stanko, one co-composed with Bukowski, four composed by Bukowski and finally one composed by Rutschka. Stanko also wrote all the lyrics for the vocal tracks, in two cases co-written by her vocal partners. The album continues a strong shift towards Jazz-World Fusion, with familiar Latin undercurrents, and even more remarkably towards vocalese, which is featured extensively on most of the tracks, to my personal delight. Since each of the songs is dedicated to a different European city, and combined with the album’s title, this is an obvious tribute to the European Culture, without any geographic / political boundaries, emphasizing the vast diversity on one hand and the common ground, on the other, which generates such a wonderful congruence. The music is perfectly suited for the purpose of the message, and amalgamates many Folkloristic influences, all wonderfully intertwined within the Jazz envelope. As already stated earlier, Stanko choses to sing a brilliant wordless vocalese as much as possible, which overcomes any linguistic barriers, and even when she does sing in Polish, the phrasing and musicality fits the universal aura of the music perfectly. Bukowski, who is a faithful musical partner of Stanko since many years, leaves a distinct mark of his ingenious musicality on the album, but all the participants contribute wonderfully, to create a serene but deeply cutting aesthetic experience, which this music generates. I have been following Stanko since the beginning of her career and her remarkable ability to re-invent herself time after time, intelligently, gently and lovingly is absolutely marvelous. This album is built from an infinite number is little moments, sounds, notes and silences, woven carefully by Stanko and her team, like only she can. She has never disappointed my sensitive musical taste buds, and this album certainly fits perfectly my feelings of respect and adoration for her many talents, as much as her personality. Overall, this is another highly successful, tasteful, sensitive and remarkable achievement by Stanko, who in many ways is a class of her own on the Polish / European vocal Jazz scene. This music is so universal, that any language barriers become completely meaningless and this music should be highly appealing to and Jazz lover on this planet and perhaps the whole Universe. Love you, as always!

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted: 23/03/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend