Record Reviews

KEMACA KINETIC ~ ZUKUNFT BERTHOLD 4250647323130 (Barcode: 4250647323130) ~ DENMARK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Danish Fusion trio Kemaca KineticFind albums by this artist, comprised of guitarist Casper HejlesenFind albums by this artist, bassist Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Matias FischerFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, five of which were composed by Knudsen, one by Hejlesen and one by all the trio members. I have been following the career of Knudsen since his arrival on the European Jazz scene over a decade ago, and his projects have been always highly surprising, innovative and challenging, and this one is no exception. Although Fusion oriented, it is quite different from what is usually considered as Fusion. While featuring a lead electric guitar, the music amalgamates elements of Ambient, Electronics, the usual Rocky beats but also Free Improvisation and a plethora of other influences, all beautifully combined together into a unique, striking and uplifting whole. I have never heard of Hejlesen, but he certainly is a truly interesting and “different” guitarist, playing the usual and also completely unusual licks with ease and elegance. Certainly a player worth investigating. Fischer adds his energetic and tasteful rhythmic support, which pushes the music forward with a zest. I am mostly familiar with Knudsen’s work as acoustic bass player, but here he plays the electric bass, as usual with great musicality and precision. And of course his compositions are as strong as always, as he weaves truly magical melodies. Overall, this is a highly original Fusion album, completely unlike almost everything within the genre, and absolutely storming the listener’s brain. There are very few innovations within the Fusion idiom since it started decades ago, but this album certainly could be a sign of a resurrection of the somewhat stale musical environment. Well done Kenneth, my Friend, and hats off to all three of you!

Updated: 21/08/2023Posted: 21/08/2023

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KNUDSEN / RUDZINSKIS SPACE BIG BAND ~ SPACE BIG BAND CHALLENGE 71393 (Barcode: 608917139327) ~ DENMARK ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by the Berlin based Jazz Big Band called Space Big BandFind albums by this artist, co-led by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist and Latvian saxophonist / composer Toms RudzinskisFind albums by this artist. The band comprises of eighteen musicians from Eastern and Western Europe. The album presents ten tracks with original compositions, five each by both co-leaders. The music is Modern European Mainstream Jazz, with melodic ties but a lot of freedom for the soloists and complex rhythmic meters, which creates a fascinating listening experience. The sound is very up-to-date, pretty far from the American Big Band tradition, with somewhat Fusiony orientation emphasized by the electric guitar soloing and dominating drumming, but the music keeps shifting constantly, changing its facets often dramatically. The brass arrangements are pretty atypical, creating a very specific ambience, again far apart from the traditional Big Band approach, which makes listening to this album especially interesting, since nothing is predictable. The compositions offer a wide palette of moods and colors, all falling into a coherent continuum. I have been following Knudsen since his arrival on the European Jazz scene and watching his development as a musician, composer and leader is an example of the incredible talents of the new generation of European Jazz musicians and a great hope for the future of Jazz. Overall this is a very interesting Big Band Jazz recording, quite different from what one expects to happen within that idiom, with examples of new approach to tonality, arrangement and composition. It might require more than one listening session to get into this music, but patience will be rewarded by deep aesthetic satisfaction.

Updated: 16/12/2021Posted: 16/12/2021

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ ATLAS NOT ON LABEL ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the sixth album by Danish Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international sextet called AtlasFind albums by this artist, which also includes Ukrainian vocalist Ganna GrynivaFind albums by this artist, Turkish duduk / zurna player Ertan TekinFind albums by this artist, Israeli pianist Eyal LovettFind albums by this artist, Romanian violist Marius UngureanuFind albums by this artist and Syrian oud player Wassim MukdadFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader, named after nine cities / places around the world, which Knudsen visited and which inspired him, including my birth town Chorzow in Poland (how unexpected is that). The music on this album has a very strong Jazz-World Fusion influence, which the wonderful instrumentation emphasizes, in addition to the heartfelt and sublimely musical compositions by the leader. The album is a wonderful carpet ride over Middle East, Easter Europe, North African Deserts and frozen Northern European planes. It works splendidly as a soundtrack to an imaginary documentary movie, where the listener can bring from his memory scenes he experienced while travelling or watching filmed travel tales. For people familiar with the music off all these regions, like yours truly, the music has an even deeper impact, as well as admiration for the composer, who so carefully, delicately and elegantly incorporated to Folkloristic themes into his compositions. The performances by all the participants are excellent from start to finish and the music flows gently, but penetrates deeply into the listener’s soul. Although somewhat distanced form Knudsen’s familiar Jazz environment, there is plenty of improvisation herein, and his ability to amalgamate all those different climates and musical traditions into a coherent whole is truly remarkable. Overall, this is a brilliant Jazz-World Fusion album, cleverly and masterfully put together by one of the most talented young European Jazz musicians, who truly embraced the internationality of music not only by travelling all around the world but also by deeply respecting the rich Human musical heritage, which is timeless and boundless. This album really deserves to be heard by every true music lover around the globe. Well done my Friend!

Updated: 16/07/2022Posted: 16/07/2022

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ CLOCKSTOPPER LONGLIFE 1204 (Barcode: 5706274004229) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the second album by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded in NY in a quintet (and septet on three tracks) lineup, which includes the excellent Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Soren MollerFind albums by this artist, American drummer Jonathan BlakeFind albums by this artist and on three tracks American saxophonist Jaleel ShawFind albums by this artist and Danish trombonist Jonas LindhFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is typical modern European Jazz, mostly within the mainstream idiom, but thanks to the excellent compositions and inspired playing it is full of highly interesting moments. The maturity and diversity of Knudsen´s compositions is truly remarkable and his subtly melodic themes serve as ideal vehicles for the band members to spread their wings and create their improvisations. There are many superb solos here, mostly by Dabrowski and Hekselman and the music flows beautifully from start to finish, being over much too soon. Knudsen certainly manages to continue what he started on his debut album fulfilling the hopes that album inspired in the listeners. In spite of his relatively young age he emerges as a major player on the European scene, and becomes an Artist that is definitely worth watching in the future. If he continues on the path the first two albums established, he will definitely get places. Overall this is a great piece of music, worthy of repetitive listening, superbly composed and executed with flair and elegance by all the musicians involved. Still little known, this music deserves a much wider recognition, which I hope will come in time. Well done again and looking forward for more!

Updated: 09/02/2016Posted: 09/02/2016

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ STRINGS ATTACHED GATEWAY 2606 (Barcode: 5707471018576) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Danish Jazz bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded with a septet he leads, which features the talents of two extraordinary upcoming Jazz musicians: the Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist. The other members of the septet are pianist Jens Ulrich MadsenFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mads LykkeFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Jacob DanielsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Rasmus IversenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is typical modern European Jazz, with ambitious compositions, based on melodic themes but allowing for a large degree of freedom and expression. The Scandinavian atmosphere is strongly present, with most of the material being low key and strongly lyrical, but the compositions are diverse and intelligent enough to keep the music flowing and keep the listener absorbed. The level of the compositions, especially in view of the fact that this is a debut album, is surprisingly high and consistently excellent. The individual performances as well as the ensemble playing are also quite superb, again unusually so for a debut album and the young age of the musicians involved. Both Dabrowski and Hekselman play some truly scorching solos, which are extraordinary by any standard. Madsen plays mostly in the background, but his work is remarkably sensitive and I´d love to hear him play in a piano trio setting (like on the short "Interlude"). The rhythm section does a splendid job all the way through, with Knudsen filling the space with his powerful bass lines and Iversen displaying a very dynamic, yet nonintrusive driving power. It is truly inspiring to hear such impressive music being made by such young musicians, which promises that the future of European Jazz is in very good hands. In the four years since this album was recorded both Dabrowski and Hekselman already reached semi-stardom status on the upcoming scene and Knudsen managed to release a second album, also featuring Dabrowski and Hekselman, which I have yet to hear. This is definitely an outstanding debut worthy of praise and admiration. Hats off, Gentlemen!

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ TETE NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5707471059272) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the fourth album by Danish bassist / composer / bandleader Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, this time recorded with an international quintet which also includes Israeli saxophonist Uri GurvichFind albums by this artist, Polish guitarist Brian MassakaFind albums by this artist, French pianist Gauthier TouxFind albums by this artist and Costa Rican drummer Rodolfo ZunigaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Knudsen. The album consistently continues the compositional path set by Knudsen since his debut, offering excellent European Jazz, which is based on melodic themes but utilizes complex rhythmic and harmonic structures, which manage to stand apart from mainstream Jazz and offer an intriguing and unique approach to music making. Although quite challenging at times, the music has a wonderful natural flow, which lets the listen to develop an immediate empathy with the composer, and offers a joyous ride into uncharted territory. Knudsen obviously reaches a level of maturity and conceptual coherence with this album, which fully justifies the hopes and interest he arose since his appearance on the European scene some years ago. The burgeoning international musical communities developing around the Danish Music Conservatories (Copenhagen, Aarhus and Aalborg) manage to produce some of the most interesting European Jazz musicians / composers in the last decade, and Knudsen (and his quintet to some degree) is definitely a fine example of this phenomenon. The music is exquisitely executed by a formidable team of musicians, who share an obvious "hunger" for challenge and adventure, which this music offers in abundance. They play splendidly as a team of course, which this music relentlessly requires, but at the same time are able to display their individual abilities when featured as soloists. There is plenty of opportunities here to be impressed by each of the quintet members, although, as already stated, teamwork is the main modus operandi here. I had the pleasure to have Knudsen and his quintet on the bill of the Singer Jazz Festival this year (2018) and I was amazed to experience the rapport the quintet was able to develop with the audience, in spite of the challenge this music obviously sets before the listener with its convoluted melodic flow and rhythmic complexity. The audience filling the concert hall seemed to be completely enchanted by the music and exploded with applause when the music was over. One can only hope the studio version of the music present on this album will be able to reach its listeners with the same immediate response. Well, if it doesn’t, please just listen to the album again, and the magic is sure to happen at some point, as it is indisputably incorporated in the music. Wholeheartedly recommended to all true Jazz connoisseurs!

Updated: 26/11/2018Posted: 26/11/2018

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ UUMMAT NOT ON LABEL ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the fifth album by Danish Jazz bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist recorded with a large ten piece ensemble that includes a vocalist (Undine RolavaFind albums by this artist), a string section, a brass section and a rhythm section and is his most ambitious compositional undertaking to date. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is wonderfully melodic, bordering on Classical Romanticism, full of lyricism and Nordic melancholy, influenced by Knudsen´s visit to Greenland and its vast calm surroundings. As a composer Knudsen obviously moved somewhat away from his Jazz origins and explores more Classical oriented forms, which include complex harmony and rich instrumentation. As a result this album features almost no soloing per se, which is an essential ingredient in a more Jazz oriented idiom, concentrating mostly on the ensemble sound. As much as I enjoy this music, I miss the "old" Jazz oriented Knudsen a bit and hope he will return to it in his future recordings. Overall this is a very interesting and beautifully played album, which presents diverse musical environments moving around Jazz-Classical Fusion, with some more adventurous explorations here and there with odd time meters and unusual instrumentation and even occasional free form improvisation. It is great to see a musician I have been following closely for the entire last decade, to develop steadily and explore new ground. Knudsen´s recorded discography so far is a great example of the work of new generation of European Jazz musicians / composers, characterized by restless probing of new possibilities. Well done indeed!

Updated: 16/01/2021Posted: 16/01/2021

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ WE`LL MEET IN THE RAIN TWO RIVERS 008 (Barcode: 5060428630086) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, this time recorded with a Big Band (including a string quartet) consisting of nineteen musicians originating from many different countries, like Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Israeli (resident in Berlin) pianist Uri GincelFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Knudsen. As all Big Band projects, this is a much more ambitious undertaking than Knudsen´s first two albums, which were recorded by small ensembles. The music is also much more complex and moves outside of the mainstream Jazz idiom into contemporary Classical and orchestral music, which is more difficult than his earlier efforts. Of course more ambitious music is a sign of personal development and can only be seen as a move in the right direction. Knudson writes beautiful melodies and his music has always been based on his solid compositions, which is also the case here. Performed by a big ensemble the melodies are less straightforward of course, as the orchestral arrangements sometimes hide the melody, but that is the nature of the beast. The performances by the individual players are all quite impressive and the whole band is kept on track by the conductor Malte SchillerFind albums by this artist, who does a splendid job. The introduction of the human voice, with vocalist Marie SeferianFind albums by this artist who sings superb vocalese parts, is a nice touch and adds another layer to the music, but on the other hand takes it away from the Jazz core. The entire ensemble manages to keep a nice balance between the brass section, the string section and the rhythm section, producing an overall coherent result. I have been following Knudson´s career for a few years now and it is great to see his musical personality grow and take on new challenges, like the making of this album. This album puts his composition skills at the focus of our attention, rather than his abilities as a bass player, but those have been already amply demonstrated on his earlier recording as a leader and sideman. One can only hope that this album reaches as many open-minded listeners as possible, as this music certainly deserves to be heard and enjoyed my many. Congratulations on a job well done and looking forward to your next endeavors, my young and talented friend!

Updated: 06/05/2016Posted: 06/05/2016

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MIFRAS ~ SET SAIL NOT ON LABEL ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the international Jazz quartet MifrasFind albums by this artist, led by Israeli (resident in Berlin) drummer / composer Tom DayanFind albums by this artist, with German saxophonist Markus EhrlichFind albums by this artist, German trombonist Nils MarquardtFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist (also resident in Berlin). Mifras is just one of many such international ensembles active on the thriving Berlin scene, which turn the City again into a significant European Cultural centre. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Dayan. Obviously a pianoless / guitarless Jazz quartet faces the challenge of performing music without a harmonic instrument, which is relatively uncommon and presents a difficulty both for the performers and the listeners. However, thanks to the comfortable and open format of Dayan´s compositions, the quartet manages to create coherent musical structures, which sound interesting and are aesthetically pleasing. The relaxed atmosphere and lack of tension makes this music easy to be enjoyed. Personally the low-key, delicate, lyrical pieces are my preferable moments on this album. The four musicians display a high level of interplay and obviously listen carefully to each other, which enables them to communicate well and exchange their ideas successfully. The two brass instrument trade licks and phrases continuously, soloing at lengths. The rhythm section often plays very ethnically, far away from the steady swing usually associated with Jazz, incorporating many World Music rhythmic elements, originating in Africa, Middle East, Caribbean and other cultures. As already mentioned this music offers a lot of freedom and often switches back and forth between composed parts and free improvisation, keeping the listener on his toes. Overall this is a very promising debut by a very promising ensemble, which is definitely worth following. I am looking forward to their next effort.

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SEBASTIAN PESZKO ~ TOCCATA IN C-CLEF NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 4050215449015) ~ POLAND ~ Gypsy Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish born, raised in Spain and currently residing in Berlin violist / composer Sebastian PeszkoFind albums by this artist recorded with Canadian guitarist Charles FrechetteFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Dima BondarevFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Peszko. The album offers an excellent sound quality with every note perfectly audible. The idea behind this album is to present the viola as a solo instrument outside of the familiar / usual Classical Music environment and to cover a wide range of genres like Jazz, Blues or Folklore, with an obvious wink towards Classical sources. Although the compositions are unrelated, the album has a conceptual structure with intro, body and outro, concluded by a solo viola piece. The music is diverse stylistically, but offers a coherent continuum and beautiful melodic themes. Gypsy Jazz and even American Bluegrass can be heard as additional influences to those already mentioned above and the trio handles the different moods with elegance and flair. The wonderfully worm and completely acoustic sound of this music is an additional asset. All the players are first class instrumentalists of course and the trio performances are well balanced and offer a possibility to clearly hear not only the soloing but also the excellent accompaniment. People familiar with this kind of music will find the sound of the viola delightful of course and although the violin usually plays the lead in such musical environment, the viola in the hands of Peszko manages to sound every bit as formidable. Listeners who love Gypsy Jazz and the connoisseurs of the viola sound should find this album simply delightful. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 13/11/2018Posted: 13/11/2018

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WORLD CITIZEN BAND ~ ANTARES NOT ON LABEL ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the 2nd album by the international Jazz quintet, comprising of Israeli saxophonist Uri GurvichFind albums by this artist, Argentinean guitarist Ramiro OlacireguiFind albums by this artist, Spanish pianist Marcos MerinoFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist and Costa Rican drummer Rodolfo ZunigaFind albums by this artist, all of which are resident around European Jazz centers like Berlin or Copenhagen. The album presents eleven tracks, all original compositions, two each except three by Olaciregui. The music is straightforward mainstream Jazz with strong World Music influences, which is not surprising considering the diverse musical backgrounds of the band members. The compositions are all solid, but not exceptional, and the music is pleasantly melodic, with a “something for everyone” attitude. Of course the musicians are all very gifted and experienced, which is immediately apparent, but the music lacks a unique focus, perhaps due to the “democratic” principle of including compositions by all participants. The solid and always perfect bass lines by my Friend Knudsen hold the music together, which at times is a bit too busy due to the over-dynamic and high in the mix drumming. Overall, this is a pleasant mainstream Jazz album, with World / Latin influences, which offers some excellent performances by these talented musicians, but does not surprise of innovate.

Updated: 05/02/2024Posted: 05/02/2024

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