Record Reviews

RONNINGS JAZZMASKIN ~ JAZZMASKIN! LOSEN 154 (Barcode: 7090025831546) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by the Norwegian / Swedish quartet Ronnings JazzmaskinFind albums by this artist, led by Norwegian drummer Truls RonningFind albums by this artist, which also includes Norwegian saxophonist Martin Myhre OlsenFind albums by this artist, Swedish saxophonist Petter KraftFind albums by this artist and Swedish bassist Egil KalmanFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, five by Kraft, three by Olsen and one by Kalman. The music is an interesting Jazz cross-sub-genre hybrid, obviously rooted in the Bebop and Hard Bop traditions, but with a lot of space and freedom which allows for the music to explore modern improvisational patterns. The melodic base is still there, but it gets less emphasis in the overall group approach. The balance between the double saxophone front line and the rhythm section is very unique here, with the saxophonist playing with each other on one plane, and then with the rhythm section on another plane, with allows for quite a complex multi-conversational result, which is extremely effective. The unisono saxophone heads stating the melodic themes soon develop into individual solos and finally into a group improvisation, all within one tune, which is pure musical joy. Thanks to the different sound produced by the saxophonists (Olson playing alto and soprano and Petter playing tenor) the overall sound achieved by the quartet is much "bigger" and powerful, as well as diverse and interesting, than one might expect. The rhythm section is very strong and precise, which keeps the group result crispy and swinging like a metronome. Kalman is the bottom which glues the sound together and Ronning very energetically pushes the music forward. Together the quartet sounds like a well oiled mean music machine, which is unstoppable. It is great to hear another bunch of young (well, some younger than others) Jazz musicians keeping the Jazz tradition alive and up to date, not copying old patterns but inventing their own. Perhaps the Norwegian / Swedish blend is a good formula for Scandinavian Jazz ensembles, as it results in an ass-kicking quartet that does not try to play the so called Scandinavian Sound again. This music sounds much more like what other young European Jazz outfits are playing today all over the continent: invigorating music, free of inferiority complexes towards the Godfathers of this idiom from across the pond. This is another great album on the LosenFind albums on this label Records label, which keeps surprising the listeners time after time. Well done everybody!

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted: 11/03/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend