Record Reviews

KARIN KROG / JOHN SURMAN ~ INFINITE PATHS MEANTIME 23 (Barcode: 7041880102326) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the fourth album by the iconic Jazz duo comprising of Norwegian vocalist Karin KrogFind albums by this artist and British saxophonist John SurmanFind albums by this artist. John’s son Ben SurmanFind albums by this artist added some electronic effects and aural layers and made the live recording of a concert in Oslo, which was later mastered by the legendary sound engineer Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all original composition / improvisations by the duo. The music is absolutely stunning, moving between songs and improvisations and keeping a perfectly coherent musical atmosphere. The mixture of the Nordic climate and Surman’s highly ambient vistas, Krog’s idiosyncratic vocals and the electronically synthesized sounds works out perfectly, resulting in a wonderful flow of emotions, that is captivating and enchanting. Although highly improvised, the music maintains a highly melodic basis, which allows the listener to focus on the details without losing the thread and direction. In many respects this album revisits the early days of the Krog / Surman duo, which started some four decades earlier. Krog is definitely at her utmost best when improvising freely, which she does most of the time on this album. Overall, this is a brilliant example of the “Art of the Duo” idiom and one of the best albums in Krog’s long and impressive recorded legacy. Same goes for Surman of course, and his many fans will find him at his absolute top herein. European Jazz lovers should find this album absolutely essential piece of the puzzle!

Updated: 01/09/2021Posted: 01/09/2021

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