Record Reviews

RUNE KLAKEGG & SCHEEN JAZZORKESTER ~ FJON LOSEN 153 (Barcode: 7090025831539) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a beautiful album by Norwegian Jazz pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Rune KlakeggFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Scheen JazzorkesterFind albums by this artist, a regional orchestra comprising of thirteen players, of which Klakegg is the artistic director and pianist. The album presents six original compositions by Klakegg and one arrangement of a standard. Vibraphonist Rob WaringFind albums by this artist, a long time musical associate of Klakegg, appears as a guest and fourteenth orchestra member and vocalist Nina GromstadFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo, with Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist presiding at the console, which of course means that the sound quality and clarity is exceptional. The music includes a collection of compositions by Klakegg, which have been assembled for a concert celebrating his sixtieth anniversary, and were consequently recorded for this album. The exquisite arrangements turn this music into a typical European large ensemble musical journey, which is as close to musical bliss as one ever gets. I have always been a sucker for the Big Band / Orchestral sound and therefore this album is an immediate favorite. Although the arrangements include solos on some of the tracks, the name of the game is the ensemble work and sound, with delicate, multilayered intricacies, which are revealed during consecutive listening sessions. Of course the arrangements have some relationship to the legacy of Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and Maria SchneiderFind albums by this artist, but also European influences like George GruntzFind albums by this artist and Mathias RüeggFind albums by this artist come to mind. Most of the stunning melodic themes composed by Klakegg are melancholic and delightfully lyrical, with a certain touch of the Nordic elegance and majestic calmness. But the music on this album is full of internal dynamics and flows rapidly like the Norwegian streams originating in the ice caps. Having just returned from the magnificent Norwegian landscapes, this music invokes immediately the fresh memories and will probably remain associated with them forever. In many respects I could envisage this music as a soundtrack of a documentary about Norway´s spectacular beauty. For connoisseurs of Orchestral Jazz this album is an immediate classic, and as such deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. The elegance, modesty and discipline that this album presents is a model for all orchestral Jazz recordings and deserves to be taught at music academies as an example of good taste. Gorgeous stuff!

Updated: 12/08/2016Posted: 12/08/2016

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HENRYK MISKIEWICZ / SIMPLE ACOUSTIC TRIO ~ LYRICS GRAMI 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001 This is an excellent album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, accompanied here by the best Polish piano trio called at the time of the recording Simple Acoustic TrioFind albums by this artist, which consists of pianist Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. There is a family connection of course as Michal is Henryk´s son. The quartet performs seven tunes, four of which are original compositions by the leader, one by Wasilewski, one is a standard and the remaining one is by the US composer Maria SchneiderFind albums by this artist. Neither Miskiewicz nor Simple Acoustic Trio needs any introductions to people familiar with the Polish Jazz scene; Miskiewicz has been active on the scene since the early 1970s and over time played in several important ensembles like Sun Ship and was member of groups led by many of the leading Polish Jazz musicians as well as leader of his own groups. Simple Acoustic Trio are commonly recognized as the leading Polish piano trio, propelled to fame as the rhythm section on the seminal ECMFind albums on this label recordings by trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and now recording for ECM on their own. Therefore there are no surprises here as far as the level of performances, which are simply spotless. Miskiewicz plays some great lyrical lines and the support from the trio is simply phenomenal, inventive and daring in some aspects but always solid and within the boundaries specified as the albums motto: music as a device to tell a story in a non-verbal setting. All the compositions selected for this album, original or not, fit the bill perfectly and the overall result is a prime example of intelligent modern mainstream Jazz, which remains fresh and moving in complete disregard of the passing time. This is definitely an album no Polish Jazz music collector will be able to skip in their collection and a great example of how mainstream Jazz can remain valid and artistically sound today. Highly recommended!

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