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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ADAM BALDYCH / BALTIC GANG ~ IMAGINARY ROOM ACT 9532 (Barcode: 614427953223) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the first international release by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist. Recorded in Berlin, it features Baldych in a sextet / septet setting with some of the best Scandinavian musicians (hence the Baltic GangFind albums by this artist): trumpeter Verneri PohjolaFind albums by this artist (Finland), saxophonist Marius NesetFind albums by this artist (Norway), trombonist Nils LandgrenFind albums by this artist (Sweden) who plays on two tracks and co-produced the album, pianist Jacob KarlzonFind albums by this artist (Sweden), bassist Lars DanielssonFind albums by this artist (Sweden), and drummer Morten LundFind albums by this artist (Denmark). Baldych composed ten of the album´s twelve tunes and co-composed the remaining two (one with Karlzon and the other with Danielsson). The album was released on the German ACTFind albums on this label label, which already features several Polish Jazz artists on its recording artist roster. Baldych, just 26 years old at the time this music was recorded, has already a most impressive list of achievements behind him and is often referred to as the new hope of Polish Jazz violin, which has a remarkable tradition indeed, with such outstanding masters as Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist. With this album Baldych certainly earned his final seal of approval, joining the distinguished club of his predecessors. The music included on this album is a major step in the development of Baldych as a composer. There is a definite style and a personal signature on all the tunes, which share a remarkable tendency towards melancholy, romanticism and deep lyricism. Most of the music is delicate, low key and slow tempo, with long and winding melody lines, a manner quite typical to the great Polish composers, both Classical and Jazz. The presence of the Scandinavian musicians, who are also known for their specific tone, might have influenced the overall sound and atmosphere of the album, but that would be only marginal. Considering also the fact that the tracks are relatively short and the arrangements do not allow expanded improvisations, it is obvious that the focus of this album is the music (compositions) rather that the performances. The performances are, of course, stellar, which is not surprising considering the level of the musicians involved. Baldych plays superbly, as expected, but much less flashy and extrovert than on his earlier recordings. It is obvious that he reached a mental maturity, which turns him into a total musician, who does not need to prove his ability to the world, but to present a complete musical work of art, which includes composition, arrangement, performance and ambience as a whole. There are plenty of superb musical moments on this album, which of course will be revealed and discovered with repeated listening sessions. The album is definitely one of the finest recent Polish Jazz recordings and will become part of the Polish Jazz canon for years to come. Baldych, who is just making his first international steps, is destined for glory, which hopefully will be achieved gradually. In the meantime this music is his gift to us, to be enjoyed to the fullest. Chapeau!

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SOINTI JAZZ ORCHESTRA ~ KOLIBRI NOVA 26 (Barcode: 6420114021564) ~ FINLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the fourth album by the Finnish Sointi Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, founded in 2013 by composer / arranger / conductor Rasmus SoiniFind albums by this artist. The orchestra / Big Band consists of a classic four section lineup, altogether seventeen musicians, conducted by Soini. Norwegian saxophonist Marius NesetFind albums by this artist guests on the title track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Soini. The music is absolutely stunning, combining a plethora of diverse influences, from contemporary Classical, Folklore, cinematic music, etc. all beautifully arranged with a strong Jazz flavor, but definitely quite apart from a typical Jazz Orchestra / Big Band, in many respects, like instrumentation, the respective roles of the sections and general balance and aural ambience. This is another extraordinary example of the European approach to orchestral Jazz, which seeks well beyond the traditional swing and riff exchanges between the sections, presenting a superb palette of musical tricks of the trade, which altogether sounds completely unique. The album offers a clear emphasis on the orchestral performance, rather than on individual soloing, which is not a significant element of this music, except perhaps for the title track. The amazing section unisono performances and the overall delicate balance between the instruments, even during the crescendo moments, is amazing example of reserve and general intentional “cool”, which are simply breathtaking. Overall this is definitely one of the finest European Jazz Orchestra / Big Band albums that landed on my desk in recent years, which makes me curious to hear the rest of the albums the orchestra recorded. As usual, Finnish Jazz does not disappoint, and stands up to the brilliant achievements of its legacy, which keeps to be developed by the new generation of local musicians and composers. True orchestral Jazz fans should have a field day with this music, especially those from beyond the pons, who are rarely exposed to such unique, creative and innovative approach to the Big Band idiom. Absolutely and wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 13/03/2021Posted: 13/03/2021

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