Record Reviews

KARIN KROG / BERGEN BIG BAND / JOHN SURMAN ~ SEAGULL GRAPPA 4212 (Barcode: 7033662042128) ~ NORWAY ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is a brilliant album by Norwegian vocalist / songwriter Karin KrogFind albums by this artist, accompanied by the excellent Bergen Big BandFind albums by this artist, conducted by British saxophonist / composer John SurmanFind albums by this artist, who also adds a few soli on several of the tracks. The album presents twelve tracks, two of which are written by Krog, five are co-written by Krog and Surman, and the rest are Jazz standards. The arrangements are mostly by Surman, but four of them are by another Brit (well, born in Canada) John WarrenFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded by my Friend Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, and offers a spectacular sound quality. The album presents two separate European Jazz collaborations, the first between Surman and the Bergen Big Band, which also produced the superb “Another SkyFind albums with this title” album from 2014, also released on the GrappaFind albums on this label label, and the second between Krog and Surman, which started in 1976 and produced a long series of albums created oved many decades. Considering the fact that Krog and Surman are two of my all-time favorite musicians, and the Jazz Big Band is one of my favorite Jazz idioms, this album is for me an absolute delight from start to finish. Krog, as I have already stated many times previously, is one of the finest interpreters of Jazz standards, as well as a great songwriter of her own right, and she has been active since the mid-1960s, i.e. for almost six decades now, never singing a wrong note since, and her idiosyncratic vocals are one of European Jazz best known secrets. Surman is of course a true Jazz Master in every respect and his accumulated achievements are second to none. The Bergen Big Band is also a great representative of the European orchestral music approach, and all of their recordings are definitely worth being checked out for lovers of that particular Jazz sub-genre. Active since 1993, it is one of best European Big Bands around, featuring some of the best musicians in the country and often inviting guests from abroad. Overall, this a brilliant album, which combines Big Band Jazz and Jazz vocals, which can hardly get any better. It showcases the unique talents of Krog and Surman, here also as arranger / conductor, in short a splendid display of talent and virtuosity. Absolutely breathtaking!

Updated: 27/01/2024Posted: 27/01/2024

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