Record Reviews

DAG ARNESEN TRIO ~ PENTAGON TAPES LOSEN 160 (Barcode: 7090025831607) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This album by veteran Norwegian pianist / composer Dag ArnesenFind albums by this artist and his classic piano trio with bassist Ole Marius SandbergFind albums by this artist and drummer Ivar ThormodsaeterFind albums by this artist marks a return to his Jazz roots, after a few years of exploring Norwegian Folk and folklore inspired Classical music. The trio presents eleven compositions, six of which are original compositions by Arnesen, three are standards, one is a traditional tune and one is by a fellow Norwegian composer Finn LudtFind albums by this artist. The music is very melodic and well within the mainstream Jazz idiom, but it incorporates many of the typical Nordic elements of melancholy and lyricism, which often characterize Norwegian Jazz. The original compositions by Arnesen carry over some of the qualities associated with the Norwegian Songs explorations, but their arrangements are more Jazzy. The trio performs the music with flair and elegance and a lot of solo space is given to the wonderful bass work by Sandberg and the drumming of Thormodsaeter, which is relatively rare in a trio setting, where the rhythm section is usually kept in the background. Arnesen improvises fluently and skillfully, which is of course expected, and his style is quite unique, playing many rapid progressions and arpeggios during the improvised parts. The trio produces a rather solid, strong sound, which keeps the listener at his toes at all times. Overall this is a very pleasant album, definitely quite different from the usual piano trio albums, due to the original material, the imaginative arrangements of the standards used and the unique performances by the trio. Piano trio fans and connoisseurs of mainstream European Jazz will definitely enjoy this music very much.

Updated: 10/09/2024Posted: 25/01/2017

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OLE MARIUS SANDBERG ~ ENSEMBLE SKARET 03 (Barcode: 7041882498489) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the third album by Norwegian bassist / composer Ole Marius SandbergFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist / clarinetist Eirik HegdalFind albums by this artist, pianist Erlend SlettevollFind albums by this artist and drummer Stein Inge BraekhusFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Thomas T DahlFind albums by this artist guests on four tracks and drummer Steinar KrokstadFind albums by this artist on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Sandberg. The music is modern Jazz with strong Scandinavian ties, full of melancholy and introverted, slowly developing themes. Although melody based the album offers a lot of freedom and open improvisation, contributed mostly by the saxophone and clarinet, which is especially impressive. All the compositions are well structured and offer elegant harmonic structures, which are ideal vehicles for the improvised parts. The level of the compositions is consistently excellent and they are intelligent and emotional at the same time. The level of execution is also very high, with Hegdal being mostly up front weaving his unusual improvisational magic. Slettevoll balances the music with strictly melodic chords structures and graceful solos. Sandberg steers the music forward and keeps the flow with his strong bass structures and Braekhus adds the rhythmic layer subtly and with great sensitivity. The four tracks featuring Dahl definitely benefit from his contribution. Overall this is an excellent European Jazz / Scandinavian Jazz album, which should make all modern Jazz fans happy, regardless of their location. It shows the versatility and ingeniousness of contemporary European Jazz scene, which refuses to stand still and keeps constantly reinventing the idiom. Highly recommended!

Updated: 20/02/2018Posted: 20/02/2018

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