Record Reviews

RUNE KLAKEGG & SCHEEN JAZZORKESTER ~ FJON LOSEN 153 (Barcode: 7090025831539) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a beautiful album by Norwegian Jazz pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Rune KlakeggFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Scheen JazzorkesterFind albums by this artist, a regional orchestra comprising of thirteen players, of which Klakegg is the artistic director and pianist. The album presents six original compositions by Klakegg and one arrangement of a standard. Vibraphonist Rob WaringFind albums by this artist, a long time musical associate of Klakegg, appears as a guest and fourteenth orchestra member and vocalist Nina GromstadFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo, with Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist presiding at the console, which of course means that the sound quality and clarity is exceptional. The music includes a collection of compositions by Klakegg, which have been assembled for a concert celebrating his sixtieth anniversary, and were consequently recorded for this album. The exquisite arrangements turn this music into a typical European large ensemble musical journey, which is as close to musical bliss as one ever gets. I have always been a sucker for the Big Band / Orchestral sound and therefore this album is an immediate favorite. Although the arrangements include solos on some of the tracks, the name of the game is the ensemble work and sound, with delicate, multilayered intricacies, which are revealed during consecutive listening sessions. Of course the arrangements have some relationship to the legacy of Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and Maria SchneiderFind albums by this artist, but also European influences like George GruntzFind albums by this artist and Mathias RüeggFind albums by this artist come to mind. Most of the stunning melodic themes composed by Klakegg are melancholic and delightfully lyrical, with a certain touch of the Nordic elegance and majestic calmness. But the music on this album is full of internal dynamics and flows rapidly like the Norwegian streams originating in the ice caps. Having just returned from the magnificent Norwegian landscapes, this music invokes immediately the fresh memories and will probably remain associated with them forever. In many respects I could envisage this music as a soundtrack of a documentary about Norway´s spectacular beauty. For connoisseurs of Orchestral Jazz this album is an immediate classic, and as such deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. The elegance, modesty and discipline that this album presents is a model for all orchestral Jazz recordings and deserves to be taught at music academies as an example of good taste. Gorgeous stuff!

Updated: 12/08/2016Posted: 12/08/2016

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SCHEEN JAZZORKESTER & AUDUN KLEIVE ~ POLITURPASSIARER LOSEN 169 (Barcode: 7090025831690) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 - 2015 Released: 2017 This is the second album by the Norwegian Scheen JazzorkesterFind albums by this artist on the LosenFind albums on this label Record label, and again it presents a wonderful piece of modern orchestral Jazz music. This time the featured Artist is the drummer / composer Audun KleiveFind albums by this artist, who presents parts of his extensive suite, commissioned by the orchestra. Sixteen relatively short fragments of the suite, which sadly is too long for a single CD, are performed by the orchestra, which of course features Kleive on drums and in total involves thirteen musicians. The music is obviously an amalgam of contemporary Classical Music and Jazz elements. It presents a plethora of short melodic themes, following in rapid succession, and intertwined into a tapestry of melody and rhythm, which keeps changing constantly. There is some place for improvised solos, although not as much as one would find in a small ensemble, since coordinating an orchestra requires discipline and pre-arranged foundations to keep everything in check. Although the music is quite complex, with multilayered rhythmic intricacies and odd meters, the overall impression the music creates is joyful and welcoming, which is somewhat unusual for Nordic music. In fact if I didn´t know better I´d guess this music originated perhaps from Eastern Europe or even entirely outside of Europe. In any case, unusual and unique as it is, the music is definitely a fresh and fascinating approach to orchestral Jazz in particular and orchestral music in general and as such of course deserves attention and even admiration. As already stated, there are relatively few solo parts on this album, as the performance concentrates on ensemble work and tight cooperation between the orchestra members. Therefore it is impossible to point out performances by specific musicians, and the listener should stay focused on the orchestral sound, which is what this album is all about. Since orchestral albums related to the Jazz idiom are a rare commodity in our times, as a result of fewer and fewer Jazz orchestras in existence, every album presenting this kind of music is a delight, especially when it is as good as this one. Since the Scheen Jazzorkester managed to produce two of such gems in rapid succession, I am already waiting for their next recording. Well done!

Updated: 27/01/2017Posted: 27/01/2017

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SCHEEN JAZZORKESTER & JON OYSTEIN ROSLAND ~ TAMANOAR LOSEN 177 (Barcode: 7090025831775) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the third album on the LosenFind albums on this label Records label by the twelve piece strong Norwegian ensemble called Scheen JazzorkesterFind albums by this artist, featuring the work of saxophonist / composer Jon Oystein RoslandFind albums by this artist, who is one of the orchestra´s members. The album presents ten compositions, which constitute a musical suite with a concept behind it, which is described in detail on the liner notes. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio, with Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist presiding at the knobs, with the expected sensational sonic result. The music is a wonderful collection of compositions, which incorporate many diverse idioms amalgamated within an extraordinary Big Band / Orchestral Jazz environment. There are shades of World Music, contemporary Classical Music and of course Swing, exquisitely weaved together into a complex, but extremely elegant, coherent and beautiful musical world of its own. The orchestra performs the music with superb dedication and brilliant skills, even when the music is far for being straightforward. The dynamics of the entire ensemble and the individual solo parts are all beyond reproach, same as on the earlier albums by this ensemble. This music is the epitome of the European approach to Jazz, where the idiom´s tradition is there more "in spirit" rather than de facto, with a much liberal and universal treatment of the subject matter. As such it becomes multilayered and multi-genre, rich and highly developed. There is so much musical content in this music that only repeated listening session are able to expose all the intricacies. Overall this is a stunning (yet again) album, which places the Scheen Jazzorkester somewhere on the highest pedestal of the Jazz Big Band / Orchestra category. Hopefully this music will be able to reach a wider audience in time, as it deserves to be heard by all Jazz connoisseurs the world over. The ensemble´s work should also be taught in music schools, as a primary example of what can be achieved when a large group of musicians is at work in a symbiotic environment. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 08/11/2017Posted: 07/11/2017

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