Record Reviews

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

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