Record Reviews

MICHAEL AADAL ~ POMONA LOSEN 158 (Barcode: 7090025831584) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Norwegian guitarist / composer Michael AadalFind albums by this artist and his second release on the splendid Norwegian LosenFind albums on this label Records label. The album was recorded by a group consisting of six players, which also includes guitarist Anders Hofstad SorasFind albums by this artist (pedal steel guitar), saxophonist Andre KassenFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Ole-Bjorn TalstadFind albums by this artist, bassist Audun RamoFind albums by this artist and drummer Gunnar SaeterFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Aadal. The music is a unique amalgam of typical Scandinavian melancholy and Americana roots, i.e. Blues and Country influences, which of course means that the result is only marginally Jazz oriented. Nevertheless these are plenty of excellent solos by the group members, which keep the listener interested. Overall this music avoids specific genre definitions, which is part of its charm and accessibility, as it might be equally interesting to Jazz-Rock, Rock, Country and Pop listeners. The only problem with this album is its lack of compositional versatility, which causes all the tunes to sound a bit similar, especially as they are all low key, lyrical ballads. Of course this is a minor point, as the melodic content is really very likeable. Aadal´s guitar playing is the main focus of this album of course, although he allocates plenty of space for all the other members of the group to come forward into the limelight. The guitar sound is very round and soothing, which suits the atmosphere of the album perfectly. The steel guitar, saxophone and keyboards create layers of melodic support behind the leader and solo occasionally, not challenging the listener´s patience excessively. The rhythm section pushes the music gently ahead, with occasional outbursts of energy. Overall this is a pleasant instrumental album, which listeners from various musical backgrounds may enjoy equally, full of great melodies and a relaxed atmosphere, which is sometimes exactly what one needs in our hectic world.

Updated: 20/09/2016Posted: 20/09/2016

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AN.KARA ~ SELMAS HUS GLACIER 010 (Barcode: 739608137435) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by the Norwegian trio An.KaraFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Polish (resident in Norway) violinist Sebastian GruchotFind albums by this artist, bassist Audun RamoFind albums by this artist and percussionist Arild NyborgFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions credited to the trio members and one is a Norwegian Folk tune. The music is dominated by diverse World-Music influences with a Jazzy undercurrent, offering a delightful carpet ride around the world, with Scandinavian, Balkan, Turkish, Polish and even Caribbean accents, all cleverly put together. All three members of the band are excellent instrumentalist with vast experience in many different Musical areas, spanning from Blues to Avant-Garde Jazz (Gruchot was a member of the brilliant Sing Sing PenelopeFind albums by this artist ensemble), and that experience is clearly evident in what they are able to put forward on this album. Despite the seemingly limited instrumental range, the trio manages to create a rich, colorful and sophisticated musical tapestry, which is a great fun to listen to and offers a highly aesthetic listening experience. Overall, this is a great album for Jazz-World Fusion enthusiasts, modest and minimalist, but full of great original melodies and breathtaking performances, which should keep the listeners delighted for the entire duration.

Updated: 06/03/2023Posted: 06/03/2023

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