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  | NIOGI ~ LANDING
ALESSA 1040 (Barcode: 9004501010408) ~ ISRAEL ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is the debut album by Israeli duo NiogiFind albums by this artist, which consists of saxophonist Omri AbramovFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Guy ShkolnikFind albums by this artist, which was expanded to a quartet with the addition of Norwegian bassist Per MathisenFind albums by this artist and Israeli drummer Utsi ZimringFind albums by this artist. The album presents five original compositions, three by Shkolnik and two by Abramov, including a five-part suite, which last for almost twenty four minutes. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo, engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist.
The music of Niogi is a very melodic, serene and well behaved, floating somewhere between Prog-Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Smooth Jazz. In some respects it is similar to what Pet MethenyFind albums by this artist was doing with his group during the early days of career (late 1970s to mid 1980s) or the easy side of Scandinavian Jazz, which often ventures into atmospheric music. The compositions are solid, but rather unremarkable and take absolutely no risks. Overall the music is pretty derivative.
The performance of the music is dominated by the keyboards, acoustic piano and a plethora of synthesizer sounds, which after a while start to sound all the same. The saxophone parts are even less impressive. The only extraordinary musicianship is demonstrated by Mathisen, whose acoustic and electric bass parts are brilliant from start to finish and who shows ears, sensitivity, elegance and virtuosity in his performances.
Overall this is a very pleasant, melodic music, which tries to reach a wide audience without offending anybody on the way. Since such music is loved by many, Niogi might even achieve a commercial success, but on the other hand they have fierce competition by hundreds of other groups playing very similar music. Not my cup of tea.
| | Updated: 11/05/2016Posted: 11/05/2016 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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