Record Reviews
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  | NORVALD DAHL ORGANIC CHAMBER ~ ORGANIC CHAMBER
AMP 030 ~ NORWAY ~ Avant-Garde Jazz
Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018
This is the debut album by the trio called Organic ChamberFind albums by this artist led by Norwegian pianist Norvald DahlFind albums by this artist with American saxophonist Jon IrabagonFind albums by this artist (paying mezzo soprano saxophone) and Norwegian bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Dahl, two of which were co-composed by Irabagon.
The music is a wonderful amalgam of European Avant-Garde Jazz / Improvised Music and contemporary Classical music. Parts of the music are obviously pre-composed, some are even beautifully melodic, but the overall ambiance is mostly improvised. The fact that there is no percussion involved creates a true chamber mood and feel, with lots of breathing space between the notes.
In addition to the superb compositions, this album also offers exceptional performances by the trio, full of individual and collective statements of the highest aesthetic and emotional intensity. It is obvious that all three musicians are virtuosi on their respective instruments, but their collective output is even stronger than the sum of their individual statements.
This album is a great example of contemporary European Avant-Garde Jazz, which is still inventive, searching and challenging. The idiom is enjoying a surge of Renaissance in the last few years, which continues the glory days of the late 1960s and 1970s, but offers more sophistication and erudition than the spontaneous efforts in the early days. The blend of the Avant-Garde Jazz tradition with European, mostly Classical Avant-Garde legacy seems to be an endless source of inspiration and exploration.
This album is a treasure chest of musical gems, which can be discovered anew with each consecutive listening session. Its diversity and richness is exceptional and its delicate non-aggressive expressionism, in contrast to many other Avant-Garde offerings, is a true blessing. Listeners with very little previous experience of Avant-Garde music should be perfectly capable of enjoying this album in full, which is one of its great virtues.
In many respects this album is an instant classic, not only within the Avant-Garde idiom, but in every environment where honest and adventurous music can be appreciated and loved. Kudos to AMPFind albums on this label Music label for releasing this gem. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 05/10/2018 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | TORD GUSTAVSEN ~ THE WELL
ECM 2237 (Barcode: 602527858968) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012
This is the 5th album on the prestigious ECMFind albums on this label label by Norwegian pianist / composer Tord GustavsenFind albums by this artist. His first three albums were recorded in a trio format, the fourth by an ensemble (quintet with a new bassist, saxophonist and female vocalist) and this album returns to the classic quartet format with saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist, bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Jarle VespestadFind albums by this artist. The music, all composed by Gustavsen, is absolutely brilliant in its typical Nordic way; relaxed, romantic, lyrical and beautifully melodic. The quartet performs superbly, with the saxophonist often sounding like Jan GarbarekFind albums by this artist, and the rhythm session subtly fulfilling the blanks and silences in between. Although some listeners might find the Nordic music "cold", this is a complete nonsense, and careful listening will eventually disclose the passionate nature of this music, beneath the stern exterior. Absolutely brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ 10
OZELLA 091 (Barcode: 4038952000911) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019
This is the tenth album by the Norwegian Jazz piano trio led by pianist / composer Helge LienFind albums by this artist, with bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. Eilertsen recently replaced the bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist, who was a founding member of the trio, which obviously had a major impact on the trio´s creative process, resulting in the album presenting no less than twenty new original compositions on two CDs, mostly composed by Lien but with a couple of compositions by Eilertsen, one by Johansen and three pieces co-composed by all three musicians. To be precise this is in fact the twelfth album by the trio, if one counts the two excellent albums they recorded with the Polish violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist.
The music is not as radically different from the earlier recordings, at least not stylistically or aesthetically, as it still proudly embraces the modern European Jazz idiom, allowing for some Nordic Jazz influences, Jazz Neo-romanticism and perhaps touches of contemporary European Chamber Classical associations. It is however somewhat invigorated and Eilertsen´s bass playing and the use of bow adds a more lyrical overall sound to some of the pieces. His solid pulsations also allow for more openness and freedom, which causes the pieces to develop slower and more gradually, building up to the anticipated crescendo with a higher level of tension.
The Norwegian Jazz scene produced a remarkable new generation of Jazz composers and players since the turn of the Millennium, and this trio is a great example of that phenomenon. All members of the trio took part in many other recording projects, all of which are prime examples of the strength of European Jazz in general and Norwegian Jazz in particular. Therefore it is hardly surprising that the combination of their talents could be anything but excellent, as this album beautifully exemplifies.
Overall this is a great piano trio Jazz album, with diverse and highly rewarding compositions and superb performances, which create a wonderful aesthetic experience. The music is also excellently recorded, although not at the usual Rainbow Studio in Oslo, but still with a truly brilliant sonic quality.
For piano trio Jazz lovers, European Jazz enthusiasts and diehard sound connoisseurs, this album is a dream come true!
| | Updated: 16/09/2020Posted: 16/09/2020 | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | JO DAVID MEYER LYSNE / MATS EILERTSEN ~ MEANDER
ORA FONOGRAM 128 (Barcode: 7090015631286) ~ NORWAY ~ Avant-Garde Jazz
Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2017
This is the debut album by the Norwegian Jazz duo comprising of guitarist / composer Jo David Meyer LysneFind albums by this artist and veteran bassist / composer Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven relatively short original compositions, five of which are composed by Lysne and six are improvised and co-credited to them both. The total duration of the album is about half an hour and therefore it is more an EP than a full album. The music was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, which explains the wonderful sound quality of the music.
The five composed pieces are beautifully melodic acoustic guitar / bass duets whereas the six improvised pieces involve usage of electronic devices and other effects, and are ambient in nature. As a result the album is a tapestry of both contrasting idioms, which works quite well together, but requires attentive listening and open-mindedness to make the musical connection.
The musicians are of course excellent performers both as far as players of the traditional instruments and as improvisers, which is clearly evident from the resulting music. The overall atmosphere of the album is somewhat introvert and typically Nordic, but definitely not depressing, rather intriguing. The improvised pieces sound very much like cinematic music, which is able to tell a story.
Overall this is an interesting, searching music, which explores uncharted territory and challenges the listener. A pity the album is so short, but on the other hand it offers a condensed dose of musical adventures, which compensates for the shortness.
Definitely worth investigating!
| | Updated: 10/10/2018Posted: 10/10/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | HILDEGUNN OISETH ~ TIME IS COMING
LOSEN 142 (Barcode: 7090025831423) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is the fourth album by the female Norwegian trumpeter Hildegunn OisethFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Espen BergFind albums by this artist, bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. Oiseth plays trumpet, flugelhorn and the bukkehorn (Billy goat horn, an instrument going as far back as the Vikings). The album presents eight original compositions, two each by Oiseth, Berg and Eilertsen, one by Johansen and the remaining one by yoiker (Google it up!) / musician Frode FjellheimFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded at the celebrated Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by the legendary Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist.
The music is a wonderful Scandinavian flavored European Jazz, heavily influenced by folkloristic touches and deeply reflective. A trumpet quartet is one of the greatest minimalistic Jazz entities, and when it is at its best, it has but little competition. Although the music was composed by five separate individuals, it is beautifully cohesive and creates an amalgamated atmosphere of unity and aesthetic beauty, elegance and consistency.
Oiseth´s playing is in many respects comparable to that of the Polish trumpet Master Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, emphasizing the expression rather than technical perfection. The slightly "dirty" tone, seemingly unstable during the vibrato notes, unites Oiseth with Stanko, which of course is meant as a compliment here. The bukkehorn parts, which sound a bit like oboe, are simply delightful and introduce another layer in the wondrous structure of this music.
But of course the three other members of the quartet also contribute invaluably; Berg is the melodic essence, Eilertsen holds all the elements together with his pulsations and Johansen ornaments the proceedings delicately and sparingly, like only best of drummers do.
This album offers the listener a spiritual experience, simply by overflowing all the senses, if allowed to do so. We can of course hear it, but it also touches our hearts, we can almost smell it, see the colors it paints in our mind and taste it in our mouth, not to mention the exhilaration of our intellect. It´s been a while since I heard music of such quality.
This album easily stands shoulder to shoulder with the best European Jazz achievements released by the top record labels, like ECMFind albums on this label, both as far as the music quality is concerned and of course also as far as the recording quality, which in this case comes from the same source. It´s great to have labels like LosenFind albums on this label Records producing music of such quality, which make us all both proud and happy.
| | Updated: 13/02/2016Posted: 13/02/2016 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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