Record Reviews
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  | KETIL BJORNSTAD ~ GRACE
EMARCY 044001362224 (Barcode: 044001362224) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz & Poetry
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001
This is a beautiful Jazz & Poetry album by Norwegian pianist / composer Ketil BjornstadFind albums by this artist, recorded with a splendid team, which includes vocalist Anneli DreckerFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / vocalist Bendik HofsethFind albums by this artist, guitarist Eivind AarsetFind albums by this artist, electronics manipulator Jan BangFind albums by this artist, bassist Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist and Indian percussionist Trilok GurtuFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen tracks, all composed by Bjornstad, with lyrics based on writings by the English poet / writer John DonneFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live with overdubs added at the Rainbow Studio and edited / mixed by the great Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist.
The music is all beautifully melancholic and delicate, with echoes of late English Renaissance and typical Nordic accents. Although not a strictly Jazz album as such, it has many Jazz influences, not surprisingly in view of the lineup. The music develops gently and requires patience and attention, but is highly rewarding and accessible to a wide range of artistically inclined audiences.
Overall, this is a beautiful Jazz & Poetry project as well as a nice example of the Norwegian Jazz scene, which has so many surprising sides, all worth being discovered. It is a quartet of a Century old, but lost none of its beauty and charm over time!
| | Updated: 16/02/2025Posted: 16/02/2025 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | EIK TRIO ~ TRUST
LOSEN 276 (Barcode: 7090025832765) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023
This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz Eik TrioFind albums by this artist, comprising of pianist / arranger Ole Fredrik NorbyeFind albums by this artist, vocalist Elisabeth KarstenFind albums by this artist and bassist John Borge AskelandFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Bendik HofsethFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks and trumpeter Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist and accordionist Heine BuggeFind albums by this artist guest on one track each. The album presents ten tracks, all of which are arrangements of well-known standards.
On the face of it, the album seems completely uninteresting: once more an album of standards that we all heard thousands of times before. Therefore, the surprise when the album starts to play is pretty shocking, as these standards have been metamorphosed in a completely unusual way, mostly by radically slowing the usual tempo at which they are usually performed, which offers a completely new impression.
On their new form, the songs are beautifully performed by the trio, with the vocals sung in English with a slight foreign accent, which here becomes sort of cute, and superb piano accompaniment and steady, very delicate but perfectly accurate bass pulsations. The guests add a little glamor and atmosphere to the proceedings, but are not really necessary beyond adding some known names on the cover.
Overall, this is a charming little album, delicate and cute but also exceedingly intelligent and unconventional, which for people who thought that they have already heard everything could come as a huge surprise. This is absolutely essential stuff for students and teachers of Jazz vocals. Well done and thanks to the LosenFind albums on this label label for releasing this little charming gem!
| | Updated: 05/04/2023Posted: 05/04/2023 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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