Record Reviews

NEIL CHARLES ~ DARK DAYS JAZZ NOW 04 (Barcode: 5060774190944) ~ UK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is a live album by British bassist / composer Neil CharlesFind albums by this artist, recorded at the famous London’s Café Oto, with drummer Mark SandersFind albums by this artist, pianist Pat ThomasFind albums by this artist and vocalist / loops manipulator Cleveland WatkinsFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, all of which were composed by Charles and include texts from the book “Dark Days” by American writer James BaldwinFind albums by this artist. The music, although based on some pre-composed themes, seems to be mostly freely improvised, with familiar Blues undercurrents here and there. The instrumental trio work is often hectic and lacks a conceptual continuity, which makes listening to the album quite a challenge. There are many extensive bass solos, which might be technically impressive, but contribute little to the musical message. As to the vocal contributions, which are somewhere between singing and reciting, and are the most solid delivery herein, but sadly are not able to deliver any of the messages of Baldwin’s prose, especially to a listener not familiar with his writings. The live performance might have been a fascinating event for the listeners, but is a struggle to listen to on record, without seeing the musicians on stage and the club atmosphere supporting the emotional involvement. Of course these are my very personal impressions, and other people might find this album fascinating, buy I simply don’t get it, which is very strange since I do love most Jazz and Poetry and Jazz and Literature events / recordings. I have no idea why this does not speak to me. Overall, this is a document of a very unusual performance, radical and unconventional, which pays tribute to a great writer and Civil Rights warrior, but somehow fails to grab me. Perhaps I have enough of depressing stuff on my mind at the moment, as is. The Jazz NowFind albums on this label label documents the contemporary Jazz scene in Britain, and does a splendid job, so please keep up the great job!

Updated: 19/09/2025Posted: 19/09/2025

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MMO ENSEMBLE ~ ANY DAY NOW ORA FONOGRAM 134 (Barcode: 7090015631347) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second album by the Norwegian saxophonist / composer Martin Myhre OlsenFind albums by this artist and his MMO EnsembleFind albums by this artist, which is a platform he uses to realize his ambitious large scale projects. On this album the ensemble is expanded to a 12tet and includes besides Olsen also saxophonist Andre RolighetenFind albums by this artist, trombonist Oyvind BraekkeFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Erik Kimestad PedersenFind albums by this artist, vocalist Siril Malmedal HaugeFind albums by this artist, guitarist Karl BjoraFind albums by this artist, pianist Ayumi TanakaFind albums by this artist, violinists Hakon AaseFind albums by this artist and Adrian Loseth WaadeFind albums by this artist, cellist Kaja Fjellberg PettersenFind albums by this artist, bassist Christian Meaas SvendsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Simon Olderskog AlbertsenFind albums by this artist. The album presents a live recording of an eleven-part suite composed by Olsen, which is a Jazz & Poetry endeavor. The album´s title and the titles of the individual tracks derive from a poem by James BaldwinFind albums by this artist and poetry by Emily DickinsonFind albums by this artist and E. E. CummingsFind albums by this artist is used within the suite. The music is mostly composed, based on strongly melodic motifs, but allows space for improvised passages. The large scale ensemble is capable of producing a rich orchestral sound but also fragments of intimate small scale moments and even individual solo statements. The fact that this highly complex music was recorded live as truly astounding. Both the ensemble performances and the individual statements by all the musicians involved are extraordinary. The ensemble spirit, which in a large ensemble like this one is often quite problematic, works here like a charm and the resulting music flows coherently and flawlessly from one piece to the next. But of course it is the musical concept and the compositional ability of Olsen that stands in the center of attention. Olsen talks about bringing the "Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist Spirit" of Jazz composition into the 21st Century, and indeed his compositions are certainly inspired and influenced by Ellington´s works, but the transition into contemporary idioms is entirely his own creation. One might wish to fantasize how the Ellington Orchestra would sound today and listening to this album is of course one way to accomplish this fantasy. This album certainly continues the Ellington tradition of an orchestra based on virtuosi instrumentalists playing complex and intricate arrangements and featuring vocals. But of course one must not take these direct comparisons too far. Overall this is a stunning piece of music, which offers a vast amount of ideas and emotions, which are simply impossible to comprehend by listening to the album just once. With each listening session a true music lover will discover new layers and experience new thrills. It certainly looks like Olson is cementing his position on the large orchestral Jazz scene and if this is his early period, the sky is the limit. This album is a wonderful example of what European Jazz is able to accomplish using its own language. Although this music is not really representative of the Nordic Jazz idiom, the musical atmosphere of freedom, acceptance and open-mindedness among the young local musicians in Norway is pushing the music in the country to explore uncharted territory and make constant progress. This is definitely an exquisite album, which deserves to be heard and studied by all true music connoisseurs around the world. Absolutely and wholeheartedly recommended, and hats off to these young Jazz lions!

Updated: 23/10/2020Posted: 11/10/2018

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