Record Reviews

KNUDSEN / RUDZINSKIS SPACE BIG BAND ~ SPACE BIG BAND CHALLENGE 71393 (Barcode: 608917139327) ~ DENMARK ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by the Berlin based Jazz Big Band called Space Big BandFind albums by this artist, co-led by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist and Latvian saxophonist / composer Toms RudzinskisFind albums by this artist. The band comprises of eighteen musicians from Eastern and Western Europe. The album presents ten tracks with original compositions, five each by both co-leaders. The music is Modern European Mainstream Jazz, with melodic ties but a lot of freedom for the soloists and complex rhythmic meters, which creates a fascinating listening experience. The sound is very up-to-date, pretty far from the American Big Band tradition, with somewhat Fusiony orientation emphasized by the electric guitar soloing and dominating drumming, but the music keeps shifting constantly, changing its facets often dramatically. The brass arrangements are pretty atypical, creating a very specific ambience, again far apart from the traditional Big Band approach, which makes listening to this album especially interesting, since nothing is predictable. The compositions offer a wide palette of moods and colors, all falling into a coherent continuum. I have been following Knudsen since his arrival on the European Jazz scene and watching his development as a musician, composer and leader is an example of the incredible talents of the new generation of European Jazz musicians and a great hope for the future of Jazz. Overall this is a very interesting Big Band Jazz recording, quite different from what one expects to happen within that idiom, with examples of new approach to tonality, arrangement and composition. It might require more than one listening session to get into this music, but patience will be rewarded by deep aesthetic satisfaction.

Updated: 16/12/2021Posted: 16/12/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TOMS RUDZINSKIS ~ ABYSS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 198026345301) ~ LATVIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 - 2021 Released: 2023 This is an album by Latvian saxophonist / composer Toms RudzinskisFind albums by this artist, recorded in a sextet setting, which includes young European Jazz musicians, all resident in Berlin: Ukrainian guitarist Igor OsypovFind albums by this artist, Swedish keyboardist Povel WidestrandFind albums by this artist, German bass guitarist Tom BerkmannFind albums by this artist and drummer Fabian RoschFind albums by this artist and Danish vocalist Mette Nadja HansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, all composed by the leader. The music is beautifully melodic modern Jazz, with a slight Fusiony sound due to the electric keyboards / guitar / bass sound, but does not cross over to the repetitious Fusion doodling, which really saves the day. The music is coherent and offers a captivating continuity, which offers the listener a pleasant and diverse sonic journey. Rudzinskis is an excellent saxophone player and his soloing dominates the proceedings, but all the rest of the crew also offer splendid contributions. The vocalese by Hansen adds a nice sonic enhancement to the proceedings, but she also sings lyrics splendidly. I am aware of the earlier recordings by Osypov as a leader, and his work herein is way more mature and impressive, showing considerable progress. Overall, this is a pleasant and interesting album, which should be enjoyed by Jazz and Fusion listeners alike, a nice document of the thriving young Berlin scene, which draws many European Jazz musicians to settle there, at least for a while. It is fresh and full of interesting musical ideas, and as such warmly recommended.

Updated: 17/08/2024Posted: 17/08/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend