Record Reviews

MATHIAS EICK ~ SKALA ECM 2187 (Barcode: 602527432281) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 - 2010 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd album by Norwegian trumpeter / composer Mathias EickFind albums by this artist with his double-drums quintet comprising of very gifted young Norwegian Jazz musicians: pianist Andreas UlvoFind albums by this artist, bassist Audun ErlienFind albums by this artist and drummers Torstein LofthusFind albums by this artist and Gard NilssenFind albums by this artist. Three additional musicians also take part in the recording: keyboardist Morten QvenildFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist and harpist Sidsel WalstadFind albums by this artist. Eick also plays vibraphone, guitar and bass. This extended instrumental capability allows for a "big" sound, although it is used with caution and extremely good taste. Eick is often compared to Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, which of course is a great honor, and hopefully he will carry the wonderful trumpet / flugelhorn tradition Wheeler so tastefully developed in the last five decades. It´s good to see Jazz having a bright future!

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NILS PETTER MOLVAER ~ SWITCH OKEH 888837477420 (Barcode: 888837477420) ~ NORWAY ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 Norwegian award winning trumpeter / composer Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist continues his stream of releases with this album recorded with fellow Norwegian musicians: drummer Erland DahlenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Geir SundstolFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Morten QvenildFind albums by this artist and sound engineer / programmer Jan Marius AareskjoldFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten original compositions, all (assumingly) by Molvaer. Following his association with the ECMFind albums on this label label, first with the excellent band MasqualeroFind albums by this artist and then as a solo artist recording two albums, he left ECM in pursue of a wider exposure and commercial success. The music is an amalgam of Jazz trumpet and electronics, Rock and ambient influences. The muted trumpet sound, derived from the late period Miles DavisFind albums by this artist sound, the melancholic and atmospheric melodic themes, typical of Scandinavian music and the ambient electronic soundscapes create an overall slick mixture, which is easily accessible by a wide range of audiences, aged between fifteen and eighty five, predominantly female. This album is quite similar to several Molvaer´s preceding albums and it is difficult to see any real progress or direction where this music is going. Although in the early days of his musical career Molvaer seemed to have a great potential and was seen as an upcoming force in European Jazz, his later career pushed him towards the role of a trumpet playing Kenny GFind albums by this artist, with a slightly more ambitious attitude. Of course there is nothing wrong with this kind of music per se, and with enjoying it. Personally I find it "much ado about nothing", but what do I know? I really tried to like it this time, but alas it is simply boring.

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