Record Reviews

INGI BJARNI ~ FARFUGLAR NXN 2014 (Barcode: 7090052640296) ~ ICELAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the fifth album by Icelandic Jazz pianist / composer Ingi BjarniFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with Norwegian trumpeter Jakob Eri MyhreFind albums by this artist, Estonian guitarist Merje KaguFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Daniel AnderssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Tore LjokelsoyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader. The music is deeply soaked in Folkloristic themes and Nordic atmosphere, offering a spacey balance between silence and sound, all very delicate and restrained. Bjarni suggests his skeletal melodies, which are then picked up by the members of the quintet and improvised upon, by exchanging notes, usually in very slow tempi. The music is all about echoes, moments of silence between the notes, a feeling of detachment and introspection. Lovers of Nordic Jazz will find this mood familiar, but even for them this music is testing the patience in anticipation of the next note, which in fact is highly effective and builds a tension, despite the seemingly calm and relaxed development of the music. The result is therefore quite unique and requires some time to be absorbed and digested, as all complex and inimitable music does. Overall, this is a very interesting piece of music, with a unique sound and unusual innovative approach to improvisation, which is almost impossible to find these days. It might take more than one listening session to decode this peculiar, but highly absorbing music making process and aesthetic approach, but eventually the result will emerge in its full glory. Enter all ye brave!

Updated: 27/02/2023Posted: 27/02/2023

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

SLOW IS THE NEW FAST ~ SLOW AMP 027 (Barcode: 662578831204) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Norwegian Jazz quintet Slow Is The New FastFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Lyder Ovreas RoedFind albums by this artist, violinist Hans Palsen KjorstadFind albums by this artist, pianist Bjorn-Even Bjarkli VerbekeFind albums by this artist, bassist Joel RingFind albums by this artist (from Sweden) and drummer Tore LjokelsoyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Roed and one by Verbeke. The music is melodic, but open enough to allow complex improvising structures. It amalgamates many influences, like most of young European Jazz today, starting with the Jazz tradition but embracing Folklore and contemporary Classical trends. One of the compositions is dedicated to the famous Polish Classical composer Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist, which defines in a way the frame of mind this music was created in. The music is mostly low key and melancholic, but at all times absorbing and fascinating. The individual performances are all excellent, again as usual with the young European Jazz musicians. The use of violin, which is still quite rare today, influences the quintet general sound and atmosphere and is definitely a very interesting choice. But all three soloists deliver both interesting solo statements and first class collective playing. The rhythm section supports the music amicably, with the bass playing a more dominant role than the drums, which are mostly delicate and just right for this kind of music. Overall the album has a very ECMFind albums on this label-like sound and atmosphere (and I mean ECM in the seventies, when it was really creative and daring). This album is definitely a very impressive debut, full of inspiration and talent, which shows enormous potential for the future, as well as the strength of the young Norwegian Jazz scene, which keeps producing consistently great music in the last decade. I am already looking forward to the next album by this quintet.

Updated: 03/10/2018Posted: 03/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend