Record Reviews

EIK TRIO ~ TRUST LOSEN 276 (Barcode: 7090025832765) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz Eik TrioFind albums by this artist, comprising of pianist / arranger Ole Fredrik NorbyeFind albums by this artist, vocalist Elisabeth KarstenFind albums by this artist and bassist John Borge AskelandFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Bendik HofsethFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks and trumpeter Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist and accordionist Heine BuggeFind albums by this artist guest on one track each. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are arrangements of well-known standards. On the face of it, the album seems completely uninteresting: once more an album of standards that we all heard thousands of times before. Therefore, the surprise when the album starts to play is pretty shocking, as these standards have been metamorphosed in a completely unusual way, mostly by radically slowing the usual tempo at which they are usually performed, which offers a completely new impression. On their new form, the songs are beautifully performed by the trio, with the vocals sung in English with a slight foreign accent, which here becomes sort of cute, and superb piano accompaniment and steady, very delicate but perfectly accurate bass pulsations. The guests add a little glamor and atmosphere to the proceedings, but are not really necessary beyond adding some known names on the cover. Overall, this is a charming little album, delicate and cute but also exceedingly intelligent and unconventional, which for people who thought that they have already heard everything could come as a huge surprise. This is absolutely essential stuff for students and teachers of Jazz vocals. Well done and thanks to the LosenFind albums on this label label for releasing this little charming gem!

Updated: 05/04/2023Posted: 05/04/2023

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MANU KATCHÉ ~ MANU KATCHÉ ECM 2284 (Barcode: 602537094561) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album for the ECMFind albums on this label label by French / African (born in Ivory Coast) drummer / composer Manu KatchéFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist (both members of the band MasqualeroFind albums by this artist in the past) and British keyboardist Jim WatsonFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten original compositions, all by Katché. This quartet returns to the trumpet / saxophone front line, which Katché used on his first two albums and which seems to fit best his musical concept, which is melodic mainstream Jazz supported by strong rhythmic riffs. His compositions are very lyrical and somewhat restrained, which is an ideal environment for the Scandinavian players. The keyboards are used also extensively as a tool to provide ambient soundscapes and overall atmospheric effects. The absence of bass creates a sharper contrast between the melodies and the rhythmic patterns. The entire album has a significant Scandinavian Jazz touch, spiced by the African based drumming, with work together wonderfully. There is little innovation here, but the music is aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully performed. All these players are very talented musicians and their individual statements as well as collective playing is simply spotless. As far as the compositions are concerned, it seems that this is the best set of original compositions by Katché so far and he obviously is getting better at this aspect of his career in time. For me Watson is the most interesting player on this album, with a truly chameleonic ability to move form one keyboard instrument to another, always being perfectly suitable for the specific piece of music. The sound quality and ambience are brilliant, as always with ECM recordings. This album should satisfy most connoisseurs of contemporary Jazz and for Katché fans this is another "must have" trophy. Recommended!

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MILO ENSEMBLE & NILS PETTER MOLVAER ~ LIVE MILO 307 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is a live album by the Polish Jazz-World Fusion Milo EnsembleFind albums by this artist, led by clarinetist / composer Milo KurtisFind albums by this artist, with guest Norwegian trumpeter / composer Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist. The ensemble includes reeds player / flautist Bartosz SmoragiewiczFind albums by this artist, vocalist Masha NatansonFind albums by this artist, bass saxophonist Misza KinsnerFind albums by this artist, oud player Mateusz SzemrajFind albums by this artist and percussionist Adeb ChamounFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, six composed by Kurtis, and two each by Molvaer and Smoragiewicz. The music was excellently recorded and offers a splendid sound quality and separation, which enables the listener to hear all the intricate nuances. Kurtis follows the same formula he devised for the ensemble since its establishment in 2015, as well as the tradition of recording his albums live, which has proven to be highly effective so far. The brilliant chemistry he manages to create, while leading his ensemble during live performances, is second to none and works perfectly to achieve the multiculti amalgam, with the music embracing Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern, Indian and African traditions. The ensemble’s members are all accomplished musicians, with intimate knowledge of their respective instruments, and considering the fact that they all play several different instruments, the result is very colorful, diverse and exciting for the entire duration. The presence of Molvaer does not have a dramatic impact on the music, and his melancholic Nordic tendencies, which are usually way more meditative and minimalist on his recordings as a leader, do not take over the general mood here, but integrate well with the rest of the ensemble. However, his trumpet and electronics dominate the two pieces he contributed, with the ensemble carefully taking a step back, which means that his pieces serve as a kind of interludes between the rest of the pieces. The more Jazz oriented listeners should be delighted by the extensive instrumental improvisations, and in in one case vocal improvisation, which are intensely present on the longer pieces. Overall, this is another highly successful recording my Kurtis and his ensemble, and although not innovative, it continues the established path faithfully, to the delight of his fans and followers. I am still hoping to hear a studio album by Kurtis and his cohorts, but perhaps sticking to a formula is the best solution. Time will tell…

Updated: 14/04/2024Posted: 14/04/2024

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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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