Record Reviews

RASMUS HENRIKSEN & POLYMETRUM ENSEMBLE ~ EASTERN INFLUENCE NOT ON LABEL 1 (Barcode: 5707471076774) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the third album by Danish Jazz trombonist / composer / arranger / conductor Rasmus HenriksenFind albums by this artist recorded with a Danish / Polish septet called Polymetrum EnsembleFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonists Kasper WagnerFind albums by this artist and Andreas BottingerFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Mads la CourFind albums by this artist, Polish guitarist Lukasz BorowickiFind albums by this artist, Polish bassist Mariusz PrasniewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Anders MogensenFind albums by this artist. The album presents a four-part suite (on four tracks) composed by Henriksen, which according to his note on the album’s artwork celebrates the Jazz made behind the Iron Curtain in the 1960s and 1970s, a period marking an incredible development of the Jazz Art Form despite difficult political circumstances of the Socialist Regime. Denmark (but also Sweden and Finland), being geographical Baltic neighbors to Poland, always maintained a close relationship with Polish Jazz, allowing many of them to play and record locally during that period. In the last two decades the artistic proximity repeated itself with many young Polish Jazz musicians either studying or moving to Denmark, mixing with local young scene, often creating some remarkable achievements. As his two earlier recordings clearly show, Henriksen clearly prefers larger ensembles, which allow him to showcase his composing and arranging skills to the max. His music is always melody based, with beautiful lyrical atmosphere, meticulously put together and superbly executed by the excellent ensembles he puts together to record his work, with a relative stable lineup. Despite the fact that the players are all brilliant soloists, the music is more ensemble oriented, following the European Jazz orchestral concept, and features relatively little soloing, which does not mean that the album avoids soloing completely and there are definitely some wonderful examples of solo and ensemble cooperation. The compositions are all superbly crafted and dull of dynamics and versatility, which makes the music flow splendidly, with the listener completely losing the sense of time. Overall, this is a beautiful and deeply moving album, definitely the best work by Henriksen so far, which shows his rapid development as a composer and arranger. The music is brilliant from start to end with never a dull moment in between. Fans of European Orchestral Jazz will be obviously delighted to hear this album, but it should be able to satisfy every Jazz lover on this planet. European Jazz at its best – hats off!

Updated: 05/12/2021Posted: 05/12/2021

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

METRUM ~ ZIELONY DACH GAD 070 (Barcode: 5901549197952) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 1977 Released: 2018 This is an archival album documenting the recordings by the Polish studio ensemble MetrumFind albums by this artist directed by Zbigniew KalembaFind albums by this artist, the founder of the Jazz Institute of the Academy of Music in Katowice. Kalemba invited his best students at the time to play in the ensemble and compose original music and three sessions from 1977 are presented here, almost entirely never previously available in any form. The lineup reads like the who´s who of the Polish Jazz scene and includes such luminaries like guitarist Jaroslaw SmietanaFind albums by this artist (sadly not with us any more) pianist Wojciech GogolewskiFind albums by this artist, flautist Jerzy JarosikFind albums by this artist (the current director of the Jazz Institute) and many others. The album presents fourteen original compositions, all by the leader and members of the ensemble, recorded at Polish Radio Katowice and offering a spectacular sound quality. Although on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this music offers an incredible level of compositional ability, which always characterized Polish Jazz. The execution does not leg behind by an iota and the overall effect of a Jazz Orchestra is simply stunning. There is so much sophistication, European aesthetics and good taste in this music, that one wonders how Popular music degraded in time to the level we experience today. This album is a classic example of Jazz-Pop Fusion, which proves that accessible Jazz can be ambitious, original, classy and perfectly executed and the stigma associated with playing seemingly simpler material is completely unjustified. It offers numerous perfectly structured solos by the participants and the artistry of arrangement and orchestral sound. Nobody plays this kind of music any more today and therefore this album is a candle in the window for people who are searching to learn from the past and absorb forgotten ways of musical expression. This music is perfect in every sense and completely timeless and listening to it is joyous experience. GADFind albums on this label Records were again able to uncover treasures form the vaults, for we can only be grateful, as always.

Updated: 14/04/2018Posted: 14/04/2018

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend