Record Reviews

NORVALD DAHL ORGANIC CHAMBER ~ ORGANIC CHAMBER AMP 030 ~ NORWAY ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the trio called Organic ChamberFind albums by this artist led by Norwegian pianist Norvald DahlFind albums by this artist with American saxophonist Jon IrabagonFind albums by this artist (paying mezzo soprano saxophone) and Norwegian bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Dahl, two of which were co-composed by Irabagon. The music is a wonderful amalgam of European Avant-Garde Jazz / Improvised Music and contemporary Classical music. Parts of the music are obviously pre-composed, some are even beautifully melodic, but the overall ambiance is mostly improvised. The fact that there is no percussion involved creates a true chamber mood and feel, with lots of breathing space between the notes. In addition to the superb compositions, this album also offers exceptional performances by the trio, full of individual and collective statements of the highest aesthetic and emotional intensity. It is obvious that all three musicians are virtuosi on their respective instruments, but their collective output is even stronger than the sum of their individual statements. This album is a great example of contemporary European Avant-Garde Jazz, which is still inventive, searching and challenging. The idiom is enjoying a surge of Renaissance in the last few years, which continues the glory days of the late 1960s and 1970s, but offers more sophistication and erudition than the spontaneous efforts in the early days. The blend of the Avant-Garde Jazz tradition with European, mostly Classical Avant-Garde legacy seems to be an endless source of inspiration and exploration. This album is a treasure chest of musical gems, which can be discovered anew with each consecutive listening session. Its diversity and richness is exceptional and its delicate non-aggressive expressionism, in contrast to many other Avant-Garde offerings, is a true blessing. Listeners with very little previous experience of Avant-Garde music should be perfectly capable of enjoying this album in full, which is one of its great virtues. In many respects this album is an instant classic, not only within the Avant-Garde idiom, but in every environment where honest and adventurous music can be appreciated and loved. Kudos to AMPFind albums on this label Music label for releasing this gem. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 05/10/2018

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

IAN TORRES ~ COMPROVISATION NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 601527846739) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is an album by American trumpeter / composer Ian TorresFind albums by this artist, recorded mostly by himself using samples and synthesizers and playing trumpet. Three additional musicians participate on selected tracks: drummer Greg FundisFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Jon IrabagonFind albums by this artist and trombonist Steven DuncanFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, assumably all original compositions by Torres. The total playing time is just slightly over thirty minutes, which makes this an EP, rather than a full album. The music is based mostly on a synthesized rhythmic Groove, some keyboards harmonic background and trumpet improvisations on top. Strangely it all works fine when given a chance. It is somewhat similar to the Nu Jazz and similar explorations of the late 1990s, which inherited its concept from Acid Jazz, and all were more a form of dance club music that proved to be a passing fad. The music on this album is more ambitious, especially thanks to the fine trumpet playing, but probably needs a bit of refining and focus to make it aesthetically solid. Nevertheless, it is an interesting attempt to innovate, stepping aside from the boring American Mainstream Jazz Overall, this is an interesting attempt to find a new (not entirely, but still) form of expression, which needs a bit of polishing, but is definitely worthy of investigation and fun to listen to.

Updated: 31/01/2026Posted: 31/01/2026

CD 1 Digisleeve Recommend To A Friend