Record Reviews

ADAM BALDYCH & HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ BRIDGES ACT 9591 (Barcode: 614427959126) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the third album for the prestigious German ACTFind albums on this label label by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, clearly the most significant representative of the Polish Jazz violin school active today. Contrary to most Jazz musicians, Baldych obviously prefers to create ad hoc associations with various musicians rather than lead his own band, which in his case seems to be the ideal solution in order to fully communicate his enormous versatility. This time he cooperates with the Norwegian piano trio, led by pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist, which also includes bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album´s eleven tracks consist of nine original compositions by Baldych and one piece co-composed by Baldych and Lien and additionally an arrangement of a pop tune. Two of the compositions were arranged by Polish Jazz pianist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist. Similarly to his previous album recorded with the Israeli pianist Yaron Herman, the atmosphere and actual material on this album is only marginally Jazzy and covers mostly other music areas like contemporary Classical and World Music. The music is very spacey, intimate and minimalistic in form, based on beautiful melodic themes, which Baldych masterly creates seemingly from thin air. The influence of the Polish Folklore is very significant in Baldych´s playing on this album, more than on any of his earlier recordings and some of the songs sound like famous Polish Folklore dances. Of course this might have happened somewhat subconsciously, but considering Baldych´s sophistication and perfectionism that is quite unlikely. Personally I find the team work on this album a bit limited, certainly in comparison of Baldych´s earlier work. Although the Norwegian trio has an excellent record behind it, their role on this album is almost entirely concerned with accompaniment with very few moments of true group improvisation and interplay. This might have been a conscious decision on the part of Baldych or simply worked out this way, but the result definitely puts the trio on a second plane, with the rhythm section almost never leaving the shadows. Of course the trio does a great job playing alongside Baldych, but personally I miss the electricity in the air which could have uplifted this album to another level. Overall this is a beautiful piece of music, skillfully executed, which should make every fan of violin perfectly happy. Jazz purists might find this a bit too sweet, smooth and melancholic, but to be fair Baldych simply has no competition neither in his own country nor anywhere else at the moment, so he is setting the mark. Baldych will surely come up with a new surprise pretty soon, being always full of ideas and abilities, and his work is always a source of joy and aesthetic pleasure.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ADAM BALDYCH & HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ BROTHERS ACT 9817 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist recorded with the Norwegian piano trio led by pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist, with bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. They are joined by Norwegian saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, eight of which are original compositions by Baldych and one is a classic standard by Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist. The music presents another step in the coherent development in Baldych´s musical path, which has been taking shape in the last few years, leading him away from "conventional" Jazz idiom into contemporary Neo-Romantic Classical Music. Although the element of improvisation is still very prominent, the melodic themes, mostly deeply lyrical and introvert, touch deeply with the characteristic elements of Polish Classical Music and Polish Folklore, somewhat parallel, or rather in continuation of the great Polish Classical tradition going back to Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist. Perhaps the reference to Chopin might sound a bit over the top here, but people familiar with Chopin´s music will note how Baldych is skillfully able to pluck the soul´s strings that move the Polish People. The Norwegian musicians playing with Baldych are his soul brothers, providing the ideal companionship needed for this delicate journey. The intrinsic melancholy of the Scandinavian (and especially so Norwegian) music goes ideally hand in hand with the direction Baldych intends to put forward. Of course the fact that they are brilliant and highly intelligent musicians also adds to final result. Together they are able to make this by and large minimalist and introvert music sound complete and highly expressive. Overall this is a mature and focused statement by a great composer and a superb performer, which clearly affirms his status as one of the leading European musicians today. The music requires attentive listening, but for open-minded and music-living listeners it offers layer over layer of wonderful musical journeys into the world of contemporary Classical Music, Folkloristic motifs and Jazzy improvisations, all wrapped up in an elegant, highly aesthetic and moving "package". Well done Maestro!

Updated: 22/07/2017Posted: 22/07/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAN ERIK KONGSHAUG ~ ALL THESE YEARS HOT CLUB 2027 (Barcode: 7029660003278) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is the second album by Norwegian Jazz guitarist / composer Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Svein Olav HerstadFind albums by this artist, bassist Harald JohnsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. Together they perform ten pieces, nine of which are original compositions by Kongshaug and one is by Herstad. This album was recorded five years after the recording of Kongshaug´s debut, exactly with the same lineup. The most important difference if the fact that is presents almost entirely original compositions by Kongshaug. Jan Erik Kongshaug is primarily known as the legendary sound engineer and owner of the Rainbow Studio in Oslo. He gave me this album himself when I visited him in his studio and even autographed it, as you can see on the scan of the album´s cover. The music was of course recorded in Rainbow Studio and engineered by Kongshaug, with spectacular sonic result. The music is notably less mainstream Jazz oriented than the music on the debut album, with the melodic and harmonic aesthetics closer to the contemporary European Jazz, especially its Nordic sub-genre. The tunes are mostly relaxed and progress relatively leisurely, like waves caressing a sandy beach. Living among the magnificent Norwegian fjords must influence the country´s inhabitants, which is then reflected in their music. Kongshaug uses both chords and single notes, producing a coherent and refined sound, which engulfs the listener like a warm blanket. The three younger musicians earned a lot of respect on the local and international scene since the recording of the debut album with Kongshaug, and they amicably accompany the leader, soloing relatively rarely. This wonderful modesty and respect does not hide their great talents of course, which is obvious to anyone listening to this album. Sadly Kongshaug´s extremely busy schedule allowed so far for just two albums and hopefully we will hear more of his music again one day!

Updated: 04/11/2016Posted: 04/11/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAN ERIK KONGSHAUG ~ THE OTHER WORLD ACT 9267 (Barcode: 614427926722) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999 This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz guitarist / composer Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with three young (at the time of the recording) and upcoming musicians: pianist Svein Olav HerstadFind albums by this artist, bassist Harald JohnsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. Together they perform ten pieces, six of which are original compositions by Kongshaug and four are standards. If anybody is wondering if this is the same Jan Erik Kongshaug who is the legendary sound engineer and owner of the Rainbow Studio in Oslo, the answer is yes it is. Jan Erik Kongshaug gave me this album himself when I visited him in his studio and even autographed it, as you can see on the scan of the album´s cover. The album´s title might hint to the guitar playing as being the other world of his illustrious career in sound engineering. The music is beautiful mainstream Jazz, based on superb melodic themes and executed perfectly by the participants and of course fabulously recorded as well. The three young lions, which played and recorded together as a piano trio before this recording, are perfectly synced and balanced together, and play classic Jazz patterns as if they have been doing it for decades. Kongshaug´s guitar will probably surprise many listeners, as it is as professional and inspired as they come, somewhat reminiscent of Barney KesselFind albums by this artist. The most important characteristic of this recording is the elegance and the atmosphere of comradeship between the musicians. This is music made with love and respect, shunning ego and competition, while and simply having fun while doing it. Lovers of classic Jazz guitar playing should have a lot of fun with this album, especially since it avoids all form of flashy guitar pyrotechnics and simply does what is right at every moment, supported by a dream-team rhythm section. Kongshaug´s extremely busy schedule allowed so far for only one more recording session with the same lineup five years later, a review of which will follow shortly.

Updated: 01/11/2016Posted: 01/11/2016

CD 1 Digipak 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

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

AYUMI TANAKA ~ MEMENTO AMP 006 (Barcode: 662578830993) ~ JAPAN ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Japanese (resident in Norway) pianist / composer Ayumi TanakaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Christian Meaas SvendsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, six of which were composed by Tanaka and one by Svendsen. The music is a wonderful example of open form / free / Avant-Garde Jazz and Improvised Music, which is remarkably gentle, welcoming and inviting. It evolves slowly, sparingly and discreetly, with silence being an integral part of the composition having a Zen like inspiration on the overall effect. The melodic themes are stated briefly almost immediately leaving the center stage for improvisations and interplay between the trio members. All three members of the trio emerge as remarkable instrumentalists, each of them in a different way. Tanaka plays passionate arpeggios, forceful chords and delicate single notes with the same sensitivity, minimalism and elegance, even in the most eventful flows of intensity. Svendsen and Johansen support her amicably and intimately all the way from start to finish, not only when they play but also when they leave her alone at the right moment to enable her to make her own statement from time to time. The symbiosis of the trio is of course one of its major advantages, leaving egos and personal ambitions out of the way. This kind of music can only work out when all the participants are completely and unconditionally involved. Even though the music is very open, that does not mean that it misses beautiful melodic, lyrical statements, sometimes right out in the open and at other times subtly in the background. The music definitely carries some Nordic Jazz references, especially when it moves very slowly and hesitantly, but then again it does have it own language and identity and balances the Scandinavian influx with Japanese influences. Overall listening to this album constitutes a highly aesthetic experience, which of course changes each time the music plays, depending on the listener´s mood and state of mind. It is one of those statements that have a life of their own and as such can be listened to repeatedly and being rediscovered anew each time. The music is beautifully recorded, with perfect peach and separation, which makes the listening experience even more perfect. The only drawback is the fact that the music lasts only slightly over half an hour, way shorter than one might expect these days. On the other hand perhaps this is just the right portion of this delight and more would have been superfluous? Regardless of what the answer to that question might be, this is a true little miniature piece of musical bliss! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 02/06/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend