Record Reviews

ARILD ANDERSEN ~ AFFIRMATION ECM 2763 (Barcode: 602448285935) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Norwegian bassist / composer Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist, recorded with an all Norwegian quartet, which also includes saxophonist Marius NesetFind albums by this artist, pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist and drummer Hakon Mjaset JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are combined into a two-part suite, co-composed by all members of the quartet, and the last piece was composed by Andersen. The music is very minimalist and although offers melodic themes, seems to be largely improvised. The performances are delicate, restrained, subdued and offer a highly contemplative atmosphere, very much in the Nordic Jazz tradition, but with a substantial element of Freedom. The performances are, as expected, stellar, as on all albums involving Andersen, despite the fact that the musicians are separated by a generation gap. But the younger representatives of the Norwegian Jazz scene herein are all seasoned Jazz musicians and offer world-class quality. Andersen is not only my favorite all-time Jazz bass player, but also one of the finest Masters of his trade, and his extensive recorded legacy, not only on the ECMFind albums on this label label, is a wonderful example of the European Jazz aesthetics and superb class and exquisite taste. Overall, this is another example of Andersen’s ingenuity as a leader / composer and a highly rewarding piece of music, although perhaps a tad more demanding than his usual output, which requires more patience / attention / piece of mind in order to enjoy the music fully. Time has been very kind to him and he is still producing superb music today and hopefully will do so for a long while.

Updated: 21/12/2024Posted: 21/12/2024

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MACIEJ GRZYWACZ ~ CONNECTED BLACK WINE 5902020424024 (Barcode: 5902020424024) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with three Scandinavian musicians: Danish saxophonist Jakob DinesenFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Daniel FranckFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Hakon Mjaset JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Grzywacz. The music is a melodic contemporary Jazz, which sounds fresh and interesting from the very first notes and manages to keep the listener in suspense till the very last notes. The guitar / saxophone dual front line works very well, as both players move elegantly between the unisono parts to individual solos and back to the melody. Grzywacz does a wonderful job playing soft but complex guitar chords behind the saxophone solos and of course plays many well constructed solos. Dinesen is obviously the most expressive musician in this quartet, playing long stretches of improvisation, without loosing the melody line even for a moment. The rhythm section plays in typical Scandinavian pattern, with the bass driving the music forward with a steady pulse and the drums playing around the beat, rather that keeping time. In spite of the fact that the album features three Scandinavian musicians, it does not suffer from the typical Scandinavian lethargy that puts many music fans to sleep very effectively. Most of the music is lively and up tempo, with virtuosic solos ripping the air. Even the slower numbers have a lot of energy and vigor and keep the listener in check. There is quite a lot of freedom in the way the quartet works together, giving each other space and respect. This album is one of many projects with Polish and Scandinavian musicians collaborating, like they did in the 1960s and 1970s, which is one of the many interesting aspects of the new Polish Jazz scene. Personally I find the work of Dinesen especially rewording on this album, which is hardly surprising considering his huge success he enjoys back hope and internationally. Also this is surely the most complex and ambitious album Grzywacz recorded to date, which of course is commendable. Seeing him developing over time is truly rewarding. This is definitely a piece of music worth checking out as it holds many truly wonderful moments.

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