Record Reviews

ORJAN HULTEN / ADAM FORKELID ~ AVANT-GARDE MELODIQUE OP 111 2402 (Barcode: 9008798615254) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2024 This is a live album by a duo of Swedish Jazz musicians: saxophonist Orjan HultenFind albums by this artist and pianist Adam ForkelidFind albums by this artist, who were both members for several years of the quartet called Orjan Hulten OrionFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are original compositions, five by Hulten and four by Forkelid. The album offers excellent sound quality. The music was recorded just before the outbreak of the Pandemic and was released only recently, after “maturing” like a good beverage. Despite the title, the music is perfectly melodic and mainstream oriented, so I suppose it was just a “tease”. Both performers are experienced and talented musicians, so it is hardly surprising that their interplay is truly amazing, as appropriate for the “Art of the Duo” setting. They complement each other perfectly and the result is more than just the sum of the ingredients. Based on solid and coherent melodic basis, the music flows splendidly and offers a truly exciting musical experience, spiced with imaginative improvisations. Overall, this is a splendid example of minimalist European Jazz at its best, which finds two kindred spirits exchanging musical ideas and associations with elegance and obvious companionship. Mainstream Jazz lovers should be delighted with this album, which delivers everything one might wish for in a Jazz album: great music, spirited improvisations and an obvious love of the act of playing music. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 23/08/2024Posted: 23/08/2024

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ORJAN HULTEN / ORION ~ FALTRAPPORT ARTOGRUSH 010 (Barcode: 7350051972324) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Swedish saxophonist / composer Orjan HultenFind albums by this artist and his quartet OrionFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Adam ForkelidFind albums by this artist, bassist Filip AugustsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter DanemoFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Hulten, two of which are combined into a two-part mini-suite. The music is typical contemporary European Jazz, melody based but with enough intrinsic space to allow for extensive improvisations and mood and tempi changes, all within one tune. The compositions are versatile both harmonically and rhythmically, which makes this album a breeze to listen to, as things keep happening all the time, keeping the listener on his toes. Swedish Jazz, although definitely originating in Scandinavia, is usually not characterized by the so called Scandinavian sound, full of melancholy and dreamy sound vistas. As this album proves, the Swedes were always closer to the American Jazz tradition, which they of course domesticated in their own way. There are some obvious World Music influences present here as well, which make things even more interesting. All four quartet members are excellent instrumentalists, which is evident both from their individual solo spots and the collective playing. Hulten plays some mean soprano parts, which could easily put a snake in a trance. Forkelid solos extensively and each of his solos displays another layer of his multifaceted talent. Augustson is a very powerful bassist, with a wonderfully warm tone and a virtuosic ability to keep the pulse going and finally Danemo very intelligently cements the grooves with his energetic but nonintrusive beats. Overall this is a delightful album from start to finish, sometimes groovy, sometimes reflective but always meticulously woven and executed. The music, although far from being trivial, sounds very easy and accessible, which of course is the optimal state of affairs for a Jazz album. Well done indeed and wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 06/07/2016Posted: 05/03/2016

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ORJAN HULTEN / ORION ~ MR NOBODY ARTOGRUSH 009 (Barcode: 7350051971297) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the second album by Swedish Jazz saxophonist / composer Orjan HultenFind albums by this artist and his quartet called OrionFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Adam ForkelidFind albums by this artist, bassist Filip AugustsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter DanemoFind albums by this artist. It presents nine original compositions, six of which were composed by Hulten, one by Danemo, another one by Forkelid and the remaining one is credited to all four members of the quartet, and is a freely improvised piece. The title track appears three times and although these tracks are not placed consecutively on the album, they tell a story when combined into a mini-suite, which I can only assume talks about the estrangement of a person in big US cities like NY and Boston. Perhaps even the entire album is a "concept" piece around that theme, judging by the compositions´ titles. The music is based on wonderful melodic themes, which are then expanded by lengthy improvisations into typical contemporary European Jazz, full of elegance and beautiful flow. The listener is immediately immersed in that flow and finds it impossible to let go until the last tone of the music disappear into the silence. Most of the music falls within the mainstream Jazz idiom, except for the freely improvised piece, which is of course the most adventurous piece of music on this album. Hopefully more of such exploration will be utilized by the quartet at some later time. But there is a large degree of freedom and space in the composed music as well, which allows for highly interesting soloing and fascinating group interplay in the process. The individual contributions by the quartet members are all beyond reproach: Hulten and Forkelid both play formidable solos repeatedly and the rhythm section supports them amicably and skillfully. The entire quartet sounds like an organic music-making entity, closely knit by mutual respect and common desire to make music, which sadly is not always the case. Overall this is a gorgeous, cohesive, perfectly executed and wonderfully recorded piece of European Jazz, which should win over even the most scrupulous connoisseurs. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 01/07/2016Posted: 25/03/2016

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ORJAN HULTEN / ORION ~ RADIO IN MY HEAD ARTOGRUSH 007 (Barcode: 7350051970535) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Swedish Jazz saxophonist / composer Orjan HultenFind albums by this artist and his quartet called OrionFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Adam ForkelidFind albums by this artist, bassist Filip AugustsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter DanemoFind albums by this artist. It presents ten original compositions, nine of which were composed by Hulten and one is credited to all four members of the quartet, and is a freely improvised piece. Hulten wrote a short story, compiled of the compositions´ titles and printed on the cover, which perhaps indicates that the entire album is a "concept" piece around the theme of the album´s title, which seems to be a modus operandi Hulten was about to repeat on his next album as well. From the very first notes on this album it becomes immediately apparent that Hulten is a composer to be reckoned with, judging by the quality of the beautiful music included here. Strongly based on delightful melodic themes, these compositions are remarkably open, allowing for extensive improvising by the quartet members, which sounds completely natural and integrated within the structure of the music. Characteristic of modern European Jazz, this music proposes an ideal formula for amalgamating the Jazz tradition with a much more advanced approach to composition and improvisation. All four members of the quartet are also superb instrumentalists, with highly developed Jazz aesthetics, which allows them to present a diverse set of musical approaches, and above all cooperate between themselves at all times. Although Hulten and Forkelid carry most of the soloing duties, the rhythm section is an integral part of the music and their contributions are invaluable. This album has a wonderful natural flow from start to finish, regardless if the music swings like a metronome or floats freely between the notes. Overall this is a superb album in every respect and a stunning debut effort (for this quartet not for Hulten who has been recording as a leader since 2002), which deserves to be heard by all Jazz connoisseurs. At the time of writing the quartet released two subsequent albums, both of which are exceptional, and hopefully will continue to create excellent music again. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 06/07/2016Posted: 09/04/2016

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SVANTE SODERQVIST ~ ARRIVAL PROPHONE 221 (Barcode: 822359002265) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the debut album as a leader by Swedish bassist / cellist / vocalist / composer Svante SoderqvistFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio setting with pianist Adam ForkelidFind albums by this artist and drummer Calle RasmussonFind albums by this artist. Polish Jazz violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and vocalist Maria WinterFind albums by this artist on one. The album presents ten pieces, nine of which are original compositions by Soderqvist and one is an interpretation of a song by Stevie WanderFind albums by this artist. The music is all strictly melodic mainstream Jazz, definitely on the lighter side of the spectrum, but the compositions are all solid and coherent and offer an opportunity for the leader to show his chops as a bassist and cellist. His vocalese singing of the melody lines is however a bit simplistic, but overall fits the mood of the proceedings. Forkelid plays excellent piano lines and confirms his status as formidable pianist known from his other recordings. Rasmusson drives the music forward with precision and respectful distance. The two tracks featuring Baldych are the highlights of the album and both are closer to the Jazz spirit then almost all the other pieces which combine Folklore / Pop / Classical Music influences. Baldych delivers fiery solos, as expected. Overall this is a very mellow, pleasant album offering melodic content executed splendidly by the participants, which should satisfy a wide audience of listeners, who are enjoying the more entertaining facet of Jazz. Combined with the excellent sound quality this album is definitely great fun to listen to.

Updated: 02/11/2020Posted: 02/11/2020

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