Record Reviews

BALVIG / BULOW / CHRISTENSEN ~ ASSOCIATED WITH WATER AMP 015 (Barcode: 662578831099) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Danish Jazz trio comprising of pianist Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist, bassist Adrian ChristensenFind albums by this artist and drummer Frederik BulowFind albums by this artist. They perform eleven original compositions, four by Balvig, five by Christensen and two by Bulow. The music is a beautifully melodic piano trio performance, with very strong and coherent compositions and heartfelt execution. The tracks are relatively short, so the music flows fluently from one track to another, displaying new harmonious vistas one after another. The overall character of the music is rather contemplative and lyrical, and on the whole quite minimalistic. The level of the compositions is superb throughout, which of course adds to the imminent success of this album. Balvig plays rather sparingly, using a lot of single notes rather that long arpeggios, which is slightly unusual and very effective. He is definitely concentrating on delivering the musical message rather than showing off. In the more energetic tunes his playing becomes percussive and sizzling. Christensen plays splendidly, moving hand in hand with the piano and filling effectively the spaces and the bottom range of the scale. Bulow stays most of the time in the shadows, amicably supplying the rhythmic pulsations but carefully not dominating the music. The level of interplay and mutual respect between the trio members is admirable. Altogether this is a splendid debut effort, which deserves to be heard and will surely satisfy all piano trio connoisseurs all around the globe. I am already on the lookout for their next recording, considering the potential displayed here. Well done indeed!

Updated: 04/10/2017Posted: 04/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN BALVIG 6-TET ~ MUSIC FOR HUMANS AMP 022 (Barcode: 662578831167) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Danish pianist / composer Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist and his sextet, which is in fact an amalgam of a classic Jazz piano trio and a Classical string trio. In addition to Balvig the other members of the sextet are: bassist Jens Mikkel MadsenFind albums by this artist, drummer Siv Oyunn KjenstadFind albums by this artist, violinist Louise GormFind albums by this artist, violist Mikkel SchrieberFind albums by this artist and cellist Maria EdlundFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Balvig. As expected from the lineup the music is a Jazz-Classical Fusion project, based on highly melodic compositions, which Balvig masterly weaves, and incorporating the string trio layer, which emphasizes the meditative nature of the music. At times the music becomes almost chamber and spiritual in nature, and its slow paste and limited dynamics inspire reflection and contemplation. Stylistically the music floats between cinematic music and European Jazz-Classical explorations, with clear Nordic influences. The individual performances are all spotless and inspired, yet restrained and quite minimalistic at times. Balvig plays single note successions, beautifully supported by Madsen, which are taken over by the strings and ornamented into more harmonically expanded structures. Kjenstad is present only on the more Jazz oriented swinging piano trio parts, which are relatively limited. The music is obviously an ensemble effort and the cooperation between the ensemble members is the essential ingredient contributing to the success of the result. Overall this is a very interesting project, which takes some effort to get into, but creates an intimate connection with the listener, taking him on an imaginary ride through an imaginary musical landscape. This album and the other album Balvig released on the excellent Norwegian label AMPFind albums on this label Records, called "Associated With WaterFind albums with this title", present a talented and dedicated pianist / composer, who is searching to expand his musical horizons within the contemporary European instrumental music, close to Jazz but not limited to its defined areas and terminology. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 07/04/2018Posted: 07/04/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

EMMELUTH`S AMOEBA ~ CHIMAERA ORA FONOGRAM 149 (Barcode: 7090015631491) ~ DENMARK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the second album by the quartet called Emmeluth`s AmoebaFind albums by this artist, led by Danish (resident in Oslo) saxophonist Signe EmmeluthFind albums by this artist, with Danish pianist Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist and Norwegian guitarist Karl BjoraFind albums by this artist and drummer Ole MofjellFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by the leader. The music is a continuation of the path defined by the debut album, moving between Avant-Garde Improvised Music and contemporary Classical Music, not limited by any convention or genre limitations. Between minimalist intimate moments and dense group improvisations the music covers a wide emotional range and allows various types of interaction between the quartet members. As all Avant-Garde music it is accessible to a relatively limited audience and requires not only open-mindedness and patience, but also some experience with such mode of expressionism, which requires less cerebral and more associative listening approach. Personally this music works for me very well and I had a great time listening to it, as it offers a rich variety of instrumental techniques and interactions, but I am aware of the fact that such modus operandi has a price tag attached to it, while appealing to a selected audience – which is the essence of Avant-Garde after all. Overall this is a bold and uncompromising statement, which takes risks and probes unchartered territories, in short everything one could with for in Avant-Garde music, which works musically and expands the listener´s horizons. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 24/01/2020Posted: 24/01/2020

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

EMMELUTH`S AMOEBA ~ POLYP ORA FONOGRAM 125 (Barcode: 7090015631255) ~ DENMARK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the quartet called Emmeluth`s AmoebaFind albums by this artist led by Danish saxophonist / composer Signe EmmeluthFind albums by this artist with Danish pianist Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist and Norwegian players: guitarist Karl BjoraFind albums by this artist and drummer Ole MofjellFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by the leader. The music is a quirky mixture of compositions and improvisations, floating between Avant-Garde Jazz and contemporary Classical Music, which is challenging, but also highly rewarding to an open-minded listener. There is hardly any melodic content per se and the collective improvisations by the quartet members are the core of the music. Some of the pieces are minimalist and low key, almost contemplative, other are energetic and explosive, and as usual with Avant-Garde Jazz they are unpredictable and often trying. There is an obvious self-control and discipline in charge of the proceedings, preventing the music from becoming chaotic and cacophonic. The individual statements, although often fragmented, are all excellent. Balvig is the biggest surprise here, since his other recordings present him as a very melodic player, and his superb piano parts on this album are anything but melodic. Emmeluth presents a remarkably mature attitude and her playing is unexpectedly developed for her young age. As I often state, Avant-Garde music, especially Jazz, often works very well when played live in front of an audience, but loses its meaning when released on record, which is supposed to be played repeatedly. Only very few recordings belonging to this genre are able to sustain their value in recorded form and this is a good example of such case. It withstands the test of repeated listening, with new vistas being discovered each time. Of course this is music oriented towards a very specific group of listeners, well beyond the mainstream Jazz enthusiasts, but happily there is place for all the manifestations of musical Art these days and musicians who eschew commercialism and compromise, in order to challenge to boundaries are more than welcome. This album is highly recommended for the brave-hearted listeners who love exploration and adventurous attitude towards music.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 11/10/2018

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend