Record Reviews

ALF CARLSSON / JIRI KOTACA QUARTET ~ OUR STORIES ANIMAL MUSIC 123 (Barcode: 8594211850377) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by the quartet co-led by Swedish guitarist Alf CarlssonFind albums by this artist and Czech trumpeter Jiri KotacaFind albums by this artist, with bassist Peter KormanFind albums by this artist and drummer Kristian KurucFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, four by Carlsson, three by Kotaca, one co-composed by them both and finally one improvised by Korman. The music was beautifully recorded at the Sono Records studio by Milan CimfeFind albums by this artist. The music is a splendid collection of modern Jazz pieces, which combine deep Nordic melancholy and East European lyricysm, performed with finesse and obvious talent by all four musicians. The rather unusual guitar – trumpet front line works beautifully together, and the rhythm section is fully integrated in the common creative process, providing smooth quidelines for the two soloist to fill them with their improvisations. Carlson offers a wonderfully diverse stylistics, switching intelligently between playing chords and individual notes, as well as between soloing and accompanying, with remarkable dexterity and skill. His guitar playing is subtle and non-aggressive, and yet very well-articulated at all times, and I wish more guitar players would adopt this attitude. He is definitely a player worth keeping an eye (ear) on. Kotaca also offers outstanding trumpet performances, with brilliant technique and precise, clear peach, all full of romanticism and melodic fluidity. His sound is somewhat different from most Jazz trumpeters, which is quite rare these days, and he is, as well, definitely worth following. From what I see on the web, he also leads a Big Band, but I have not heard any of that stuff! Overall, this is an excellent Jazz album, which should satisfy even the most demanding listeners, which offers great compositions, highly elegant performances and truly breathtaking sound quality, i.e. everything one might desire in a piece of music. Not to be missed!

Updated: 26/05/2024Posted: 26/05/2024

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