Record Reviews

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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