Record Reviews

ANDERS THOREN ~ SOURCES OF INSPIRATION AMP 001 ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by the Swedish (resident in Norway) drummer / composer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with Norwegian saxophonist Borge-Are HalvorsenFind albums by this artist, Swedish pianist Lars JanssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven pieces, three composed by Jansson, two co-composed by Jansson and Thoren, two composed by Halvorsen and four composed by musicians outside of the quartet. As the title suggests, the album is dedicated to music by fellow musicians, who inspired Thoren´s journey into music, including the celebrated pianist / composer Lars Jansson, who is featured on this album. The music is beautiful mainstream contemporary Jazz, with a strong Nordic tinge, but moving also to other, more exotic, territories. Wonderfully melodic and accessible, the music manages to keep a high standard in all respects, with intelligent arrangements and heartfelt love of the subject matter. It is a wonderful example of melody based music which can be sophisticated, elegant and fascinating, without being tiresome and pretentious. The level of the compositions is excellent and full of positive energy and inspiration. The execution is absolutely stunning in every respect. Jansson virtuosic piano parts are of course the highlight of the quartet´s sound, but all the musicians play in perfect harmony and with obvious respect. Halvorsen adds sleek saxophone parts and the rhythm section is simply fabulous, working like a symbiotic duo to support the soloist and adding their respective solos on the way. Berg is marvelously melodic and his full tone adds significantly to the overall sound of the quartet. Thoren has an excellent feel of time and uses a plethora of techniques to keep the pulsating rhythms in check, while not being obtrusive. Overall this is a very impressive debut, which should make all Jazz connoisseurs happy, especially since it offers also a sublime sound quality. A wonderful gift of pure and unadulterated mainstream Jazz, which should warm the listeners hears during long winter evening or cool them down during hot summer nights.

Updated: 21/10/2017Posted: 21/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NORDIC CIRCLES ~ WINTER RAINBOW AMP 002 (Barcode: 769923110752) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by a project called Nordic CirclesFind albums by this artist, which assembles ad-hoc ensembles featuring musicians from the Nordic countries and creates a meeting point between established Jazz players and young representatives of the genre. On this album the lineup consists of Norwegian trumpeter Tore JohansenFind albums by this artist, Swedish guitarist Per OrvangFind albums by this artist, Norwegian pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Anders LjungbergFind albums by this artist and Swedish (resident in Norway) drummer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions: three by Orvang, two by Thoren, one each by Johansen and Lien and one is an improvised non-credited piece. The music was recorded at the legendary Rainbow studio in Oslo with Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist in charge of the sound. The music is typical Nordic Jazz, with beautiful melodic themes developing slowly, full of melancholy and mystique. The minimalistic and delicate arrangements add to the lyrical atmosphere. Even the freely improvised piece sounds melodic and completely in place with the rest of the material. The performances of the quintet members are all stellar. Johansen "steals" the show with his beautiful trumpet tone and exquisitely balanced long solos, but Orvang and Lien also contribute exceptional statements. The rhythm section keeps the music moving forward, with the bass supporting the harmonic structures and the drums adding percussive ornamentations to the beat and tempo. There is a superb level of mutual understanding and respect and the music flows naturally and flawlessly, like mist over water. Lovers of the Nordic sound should find this album delightful in every respect, both musically and sound wise, as the recording is exceptionally bright and clear, as always in the case of Kongshaug presiding over the knobs. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Updated: 20/10/2017Posted: 20/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MICHAEL BLOCH ~ FIRST LIGHT AMP 003 (Barcode: 662578830955) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Norwegian pianist / composer Michael BlochFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten pieces, nine of which are original compositions by Bloch and one is a standard. The music is an excellent example of beautiful modern mainstream piano Jazz, strongly influenced by classic Jazz tradition, such as the work of Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, and yet definitely strongly individual and unique to stand on its own. The wonderful Evans´ lyricism and flow are certainly there, but so are traces of many other influences, including Nordic melancholy and European impressionism. The level of the compositions is excellent and consistently coherent, which in the naked piano trio environment is an essential ingredient of the music´s overall impact. The playing is also exceptional, with Bloch displaying the quality of a mature and rounded pianist, despite his relatively young age. His dynamics and sensitivity are fond reminders of the great classic pianists of the times long gone. The excellent rhythm section supports the leader amicably and with great respect, doing exactly what is required in such setting. Berg stands shoulder to shoulder with Bloch, playing the bass pulsations harmoniously and rhythmically optimized to each of the tunes. Thoren, like all great drummers, is extremely delicate and considerate, staying respectfully in the background, subtly laying down the rhythmic tracks, being heard exactly when his presence is required and taking a step back when the music calls for it. Overall this is a superb debut effort and a must have for all piano trio connoisseurs, who should love this stuff to bits, especially since the album is also excellently recorded and offers a superb sound quality. Being definitely a foreteller of great things to come, this album is wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 20/10/2017Posted: 20/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MAGNUS BAKKEN ~ CYCLES AMP 005 (Barcode: 662578830979) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Norwegian saxophonist / composer Magnus BakkenFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Jorn OienFind albums by this artist, bassist Christian Meaas SvendsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon Audun BaarFind albums by this artist. The album also features veteran American saxophonist George GarzoneFind albums by this artist, Bakken´s teacher at the Berklee College of Music, where he studied. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Bakken. The music is adventurous modern mainstream Jazz, which combines the American influences Bakken absorbed at Berklee with his natural Nordic inspirations, which overall is quite impressive. The themes are very lyrical and often melancholic, beautifully melodic and heartfelt. The level of the compositions is definitely very impressive, especially in the case of a debut album. Lucky for Bakken the Berklee influence did not manage to destroy his individuality. The execution is also excellent from start to finish. Oien plays some remarkable solo parts and supplies the melodic chord structure all along. The rhythm section is inventive and non-aggressive, carrying the music forward with elegance and flair. The saxophonists, both individually and as a team, play along splendidly, creating many intriguing solo parts. Garzone definitely plays more interestingly here, accompanied by the young Norwegians, than on his American recordings. Overall this is a splendid debut offer by Bakken, both as a player and a composer, which certainly shows his enormous potential and promises great things to come in the future.

Updated: 20/10/2017Posted: 20/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

AYUMI TANAKA ~ MEMENTO AMP 006 (Barcode: 662578830993) ~ JAPAN ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Japanese (resident in Norway) pianist / composer Ayumi TanakaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Christian Meaas SvendsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, six of which were composed by Tanaka and one by Svendsen. The music is a wonderful example of open form / free / Avant-Garde Jazz and Improvised Music, which is remarkably gentle, welcoming and inviting. It evolves slowly, sparingly and discreetly, with silence being an integral part of the composition having a Zen like inspiration on the overall effect. The melodic themes are stated briefly almost immediately leaving the center stage for improvisations and interplay between the trio members. All three members of the trio emerge as remarkable instrumentalists, each of them in a different way. Tanaka plays passionate arpeggios, forceful chords and delicate single notes with the same sensitivity, minimalism and elegance, even in the most eventful flows of intensity. Svendsen and Johansen support her amicably and intimately all the way from start to finish, not only when they play but also when they leave her alone at the right moment to enable her to make her own statement from time to time. The symbiosis of the trio is of course one of its major advantages, leaving egos and personal ambitions out of the way. This kind of music can only work out when all the participants are completely and unconditionally involved. Even though the music is very open, that does not mean that it misses beautiful melodic, lyrical statements, sometimes right out in the open and at other times subtly in the background. The music definitely carries some Nordic Jazz references, especially when it moves very slowly and hesitantly, but then again it does have it own language and identity and balances the Scandinavian influx with Japanese influences. Overall listening to this album constitutes a highly aesthetic experience, which of course changes each time the music plays, depending on the listener´s mood and state of mind. It is one of those statements that have a life of their own and as such can be listened to repeatedly and being rediscovered anew each time. The music is beautifully recorded, with perfect peach and separation, which makes the listening experience even more perfect. The only drawback is the fact that the music lasts only slightly over half an hour, way shorter than one might expect these days. On the other hand perhaps this is just the right portion of this delight and more would have been superfluous? Regardless of what the answer to that question might be, this is a true little miniature piece of musical bliss! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 02/06/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NINJABEAT ~ THE WAITING GAME AMP 007 (Barcode: 662578831006) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz-Rock ensemble NinjabeatFind albums by this artist, a nonet comprising of saxophonist Magnus BakkenFind albums by this artist, bassist Bo BergFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pal Gunnar FiksdalFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Kristian WentzelFind albums by this artist and Knut LochsenFind albums by this artist, guitarists Ture JansonFind albums by this artist and Svein Rikard MathisenFind albums by this artist, drummer Ole Morten SommerFind albums by this artist and percussionist Bjorn Einar HanstveitFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, six of which were composed by Bakken and two were co-composed by Bakken and Berg. The music is an excellent example of Brass-Rock, somewhat retro sounding with clear indicators of the great late 1960s Brass-Rock groups like Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist, ChicagoFind albums by this artist and others, but brought up to date with a more electronic sound. The compositions are all excellent and amalgamate elements of Funk, Groove and Soul in addition to the Fusion of Jazz and Rock. Although very accessible, the music is quite complex at times and non trivial at any point. The execution is also excellent, with many exciting solo parts by the participants and a great balance between the ensemble members, with can be very tricky with such large ensembles. The albums is very coherent and a great fun to listen to, from start to finish. Overall this is an excellent debut effort, especially so in view of the fact that music of this specific idiom is almost completely gone from the contemporary scene, which of course is a great pity. This album is wholeheartedly recommended to all Brass-Rock fans, who should love this stuff to pieces!

Updated: 07/10/2017Posted: 07/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BRIDGES ~ BRIDGES WITH SEAMUS BLAKE AMP 008 (Barcode: 662578831013) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz quartet BridgesFind albums by this artist, led by drummer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist and also including trumpeter Hayden PowellFind albums by this artist, pianist Espen BergFind albums by this artist and bassist Ole Morten VaganFind albums by this artist. The quartet is joined by NY based (born in London, raised in Vancouver) saxophonist Seamus BlakeFind albums by this artist and together as a classic quintet they perform ten pieces, nine of which were individually or collectively composed by the quintet members. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo and engineered by Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist, with the usual spectacular sonic quality. The music is a superb example of modern European Jazz, with a tinge of Nordic melancholy, but nor really a typical Scandinavian outing, probably due to Blake´s presence. Based on firm melodic basis, the music allows enough space and freedom to appear airy and enables the individual players to express their statements. Three of the pieces are collective improvisations, with emphasizes the diversity and openness of the music. The individual performances are all first rate, which is hardly surprising from musicians of this statue. Blake delivers his velvety phrases, which are always right on the money, but he is not taking the centre of the stage on this album, which is by all means a collective effort. Powell plays some great trumpet lines, which are a delight and Berg masterly creates the harmonic layer upon the music smoothly flows on, throwing in a few breathtaking solos. The rhythm section is inventively supportive and deeply involved within the music, as usual with European Jazz, which sees the rhythm section as an integral part of the music making process. Overall this is a superb album from start to finish, which offers excellent music and superb execution, topped with fabulous sound quality. Jazz connoisseurs can hardly expect a better "deal" and therefore are wholeheartedly invited to check this album out at the first opportunity; satisfaction guaranteed! The album was released on a young Norwegian record label, called AMPFind albums on this label Music & Records, which is consistently releasing excellent productions since day one and is also wholeheartedly recommended to be followed.

Updated: 24/07/2017Posted: 24/07/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NORDIC CIRCLES ~ UNDER THE CLOUDS AMP 009 (Barcode: 662578831020) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2017 This is the second album by the fabulous Norwegian Jazz project called Nordic CirclesFind albums by this artist, which creates an opportunity for established Jazz musicians to perform with the young and upcoming representatives of the genre, not limiting the project to Norway but including also musicians from other Nordic countries. The ad-hoc lineup of the ensemble is a sextet this time and includes Swedish pianist Lars JanssonFind albums by this artist, Norwegian vocalist Siril Malmedal HaugeFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Jesper BodilsenFind albums by this artist, Norwegian saxophonist Magnus BakkenFind albums by this artist, Norwegian guitarist Jacob YoungFind albums by this artist and Swedish (resident in Norway) drummer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven original compositions (four composed by Jansson and three by Bodilsen), one freely improvised piece and one composition by the Swedish songwriter Olle AdolphsonFind albums by this artist. The author of the English language lyrics to the songs remains undisclosed on the album´s packaging. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow studio in Oslo with the no less legendary Jan Erik KongshaugFind albums by this artist in charge of the sonic result, which as usual in such case is extraordinary. The music is mostly deeply melodic, ranging from melancholic ballads to more energetic pieces, all of which are deeply influenced by the Nordic lyricism, which of course is the essence of the project. Even the improvised piece remains pretty disciplined and does not disturb the overall melodic and harmonic approach of the album as a whole. The individual performances by the participating musicians are all absolutely stunning, as expected. The young lions play comfortably along with the veterans without any inferiority complexes and for the listener it is impossible to recognize the age differences. Jansson has a wonderful melodic approach and the music simply flows from under his fingers. Bakken and Young play some very uplifting solos and the rhythm section elegantly keeps the music on track, providing the pulse. But the most exciting surprise is the young vocalist, who performs melodic lines and vocalese with the same ease and elegance. Her vocal improvisations are definitely some of the most thrilling parts on this album. Overall this is a wonderful example of melodic Nordic mainstream Jazz, full of moving lyrical content and exciting playing. Wonderfully put together and stunningly recorded, this is unadulterated delight from start to finish for a wide range of Jazz connoisseurs, especially those drawn to the icy Nordic atmosphere. Well done!

Updated: 01/10/2017Posted: 01/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

SIMEN KIIL HALVORSEN ~ SCRIPTED CONVERSATIONS AMP 010 (Barcode: 6625788310376) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Norwegian trumpeter / composer Simen Kiil HalvorsenFind albums by this artist, recorded by his sextet, which also includes saxophonist Hanna PaulsbergFind albums by this artist, pianist Oyvind DaleFind albums by this artist, bassist Fredrik Luhr DietrichsonFind albums by this artist and drummers Raymond Storaunet LavikFind albums by this artist and Hans HulbaekmoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Halvorsen. The music is contemporary European Jazz, played by representatives of the young generation of Norwegian Jazz, which is gradually taking charge of the local scene. The compositions are coherent and harmonically graceful, serving ideally as vehicles for extended soloing and group performances. The rhythm section, which features two drummers, adds a unique polyrhythmic touch, which includes a delicate but significant World Music subtext. The well written tunes are able to hold the listener´s attention from start to finish and keep surprising with their grace and depth. There is a superb balance between the melody based material and the less constrained improvised content, providing an excellent amalgam of the two. The individual performances by all the members of the sextet are very impressive, especially in view of their young age. These musicians are all gifted instrumentalists and their work as an ensemble is full of mutual respect and attentive listening. The overall result achieved by the sextet is truly outstanding. This album is a wonderful example of what young European musicians are capable today, presenting a remarkably mature statements, which are detached from the stale American Jazz tradition. This music is fresh, progressive and searching, and as such keeps the listener mesmerized, and expands the Jazz horizons into uncharted territory, which after all is the essence of the idiom. Overall this is a most impressive debut, both on the compositional and performance levels, which deserves to be heard by as many modern European Jazz fans as possible. Please reach out and get a copy of this album – satisfaction guaranteed!

Updated: 04/10/2018Posted: 05/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OK:KO ~ LAND E. AMP 011 (Barcode: 662578831044) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Finnish Jazz quartet OK:KOFind albums by this artist, led by drummer / composer Okko SaastamoinenFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Jarno TikkaFind albums by this artist, pianist Toomas Keski-SanttiFind albums by this artist and bassist Mikael SaastamoinenFind albums by this artist. The album presents five original compositions, all by the leader. The music is a great example of interesting contemporary European Jazz, based on clearly defined melodic themes, but allowing a lot of freedom and space for the quartet members to interpret the music on individual basis, which often sounds as if the quartet members play on separate planes, yet somehow manage to keep everything coherently together. Another fascinating aspect of the music is the extensive usage of uneven rhythmic patterns, with the music falling in and out of the obvious swinging outline and changing the rhythm often within a singular phrase. As usual with young European Jazz musicians it is amazing to see such a profound understanding of the Jazz idiom and a mighty arsenal of technical tricks and originality, which one does not usually expect to find with musicians of their age. Altogether this album leaves a very strong impression and it is a very impressive debut outing indeed. The only drawback is the very short duration of the music (just over thirty five minutes), which usually would be classified as an EP. These young Lions are surely worth being followed, and they will surely produce more of such wonderful music as found on this album. In the meantime, just keep playing and composing!

Updated: 22/07/2017Posted: 22/07/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BENEDETTINI / MONTRONE / PACHE / MAGNARELLI ~ NEAR AND HOW AMP 012 (Barcode: 662578831051) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is an album by Italian Jazz quartet comprising of trumpeter Joe MagnarelliFind albums by this artist, pianist Bruno MontroneFind albums by this artist, bassist Paolo BenedettiniFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam PacheFind albums by this artist. Magnarelli and Benedettini are now based in NY, Montrone lives in Bari and the Australian born Pache lives in Rome, which emphasizes the international scope of Jazz today. The quartet plays seven pieces, three of which are original compositions by Magnarelli and four are standards. The music is very mainstream oriented, based on American Jazz tradition and basically stays within the Bebop idiom, which still sadly dominates American Jazz to this very day. This quartet is a typical example of European musicians following the American Jazz tradition, rather that seeking for an individual form of expression. All four instrumentalists are very professional and play without a hitch, but the music does not go anywhere, being frozen in time since decades. Basically a good mainstream Jazz album, but there are thousands of similar albums around and this one offers nothing in particular, which it can be remembered for. For fans of mainstream Jazz only!

Updated: 24/07/2017Posted: 24/07/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

WAKO & OSLO STRINGS ~ MODES FOR ALL ETERNITY AMP 014 (Barcode: 662578831068) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is an album by Norwegian Jazz quartet WakoFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Martin Myhre OlsenFind albums by this artist, pianist Kjetil Andre MulelidFind albums by this artist, bassist Bardur Reinert PoulsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Simon Olderskog AlbertsenFind albums by this artist, expanded to a septet with the addition of a string trio. The album presents six original compositions, all by Olsen, one of which is a five-part suite. The music is a brilliant amalgam of Improvised Music and European Modern Classical tradition, which combines composed pieces and improvised spur of the moment creations in a unique and highly original way. In many respects this music continues Olsen´s debut recording "Lonely CreaturesFind albums with this title", which revealed his enormous potential as composer. His use of the strings, which become an integral part of the ensemble, is especially interesting and points out to some novel arranging techniques, which are rarely seen elsewhere. Although conceptually the music might be seen as based on the work of the Early 20th Century Modernists, it certainly has it own values and qualities and constitutes an up to date version of these Classical Music elements. In spite of the fact that the music is very complex and multi-layered, it is at the same time quite accessible. Of course repeated listening sessions are required to penetrate the full depth of the musical intricacy, but the music is welcoming from the very first approach, which is pretty amazing. The album attests to the incredible renaissance of European Jazz and associated music, which presents new aesthetic heights and intellectual values, which have been dormant for a while. Norway has become a most fertile ground for New Music, and this album is just one of many great pieces of music originating there. Olson is definitely a musician worth following and surely he is going to surprise us with many new projects in the future. In the meantime this is a highly challenging and highly praiseworthy album, which hopefully will be heard by as many people as possible. Connoisseurs of non-trivial, rich and aesthetically fulfilling music will find plenty of it herein, and will discover more of it with every listen. Highly recommended!

Updated: 24/07/2017Posted: 24/07/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BALVIG / BULOW / CHRISTENSEN ~ ASSOCIATED WITH WATER AMP 015 (Barcode: 662578831099) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Danish Jazz trio comprising of pianist Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist, bassist Adrian ChristensenFind albums by this artist and drummer Frederik BulowFind albums by this artist. They perform eleven original compositions, four by Balvig, five by Christensen and two by Bulow. The music is a beautifully melodic piano trio performance, with very strong and coherent compositions and heartfelt execution. The tracks are relatively short, so the music flows fluently from one track to another, displaying new harmonious vistas one after another. The overall character of the music is rather contemplative and lyrical, and on the whole quite minimalistic. The level of the compositions is superb throughout, which of course adds to the imminent success of this album. Balvig plays rather sparingly, using a lot of single notes rather that long arpeggios, which is slightly unusual and very effective. He is definitely concentrating on delivering the musical message rather than showing off. In the more energetic tunes his playing becomes percussive and sizzling. Christensen plays splendidly, moving hand in hand with the piano and filling effectively the spaces and the bottom range of the scale. Bulow stays most of the time in the shadows, amicably supplying the rhythmic pulsations but carefully not dominating the music. The level of interplay and mutual respect between the trio members is admirable. Altogether this is a splendid debut effort, which deserves to be heard and will surely satisfy all piano trio connoisseurs all around the globe. I am already on the lookout for their next recording, considering the potential displayed here. Well done indeed!

Updated: 04/10/2017Posted: 04/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JOONAS LEPPANEN / ALDER EGO ~ ALDER EGO AMP 016 (Barcode: 662578831105) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the young Finnish Jazz quartet Alder EgoFind albums by this artist, led by drummer / composer Joonas LeppanenFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Jarno TikkaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tomi NikkuFind albums by this artist and bassist Teemu AkerblomFind albums by this artist. Accordionist Harri KuusijarviFind albums by this artist guest on a couple of tracks. The quartet presents seven original compositions, six of which were composed by Leppanen and one is a collectively improvised piece. The quartet has an unusual sound due to the lack of any harmonic instruments (except for the accordion contributions) and therefore the music is based on the exchanges and unisono parts played by the brass, amicably supported by the rhythm section. Although melody based, the music allows for a lot of space and freedom, not as extreme as in Free Form, but certainly with a wide spectrum of improvised input. Overall the music is complex and diverse, but coherent and interesting throughout. The individual statements by these musicians are quite impressive, and as usual emphasize the astounding level of musicianship achieved by young European Jazz musicians these days, not only in the Nordic countries by all over the continent. Leppanen is not only a gifted composer but also offers a unique drumming style. Akerblom keeps the music glues together by his splendid bass pulsations. Tikka and Nikku both sound like seasoned veterans who really know exactly what to play at each given moment. It is very encouraging to hear that the splendid Finnish Jazz legacy is continued by the new generation. Overall this is an excellent debut effort, which offers wonderful contemporary European Jazz, which is not trivial or derivative, and which holds a lot of potential for the future achievements by these young lions. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 03/10/2017Posted: 03/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ZYKLUS ~ VIRTUAL REALTIES AMP 017 ~ UK ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 1989 - 1991 Released: 1991 This is the only album by British Ambient Jazz quartet ZyklusFind albums by this artist, formed by keyboardist / electronic music composer John L. WaltersFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / composer Neil ArdleyFind albums by this artist, which also included trumpeter Ian CarrFind albums by this artist and guitarist / drummer Warren GrevesonFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are original compositions by the quartet members and one is a re-composition of Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist’s “Round Midnight”, which is among the most touching renditions of the tune I have ever heard. This album is one of the most obscure and forgotten British Jazz gems, and is the last recording by Ardley, before he made a career change to become a prolific writer. The music is a pioneering amalgam of Jazz and electronic music, which at the time of its recording was pretty unprecedented. The music includes an arrangement of a fragment of Ardley’s “Kaleidoscope Of RainbowsFind albums with this title” and its general ambience is quite similar to his famous works. Although Carr did nor compose any music on this album, his brilliant trumpet parts are definitely one of the highlights and his incredible talent to use dynamic in favor of the required effect to suit the music is clearly evident herein. Since he plays the only acoustic instrument, he is in charge of the electro-acoustic balance, which this music is all about. Carr’s enthusiasts might find his playing on this album as some of his most beautiful work ever. Overall this highly original and unusual album is a gem worth to be discovered, which offers innovative approach to create Ambient Jazz without crossing over to synthesized kitsch, and which kept its aesthetic and Artistic values completely untouched by time. Probably not easy to find a copy but definitely worth every effort, this album is a must in every comprehensive British Jazz collection.

Updated: 01/08/2021Posted: 01/08/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

MICHAEL BLOCH ~ CIRCULAR CHANGES AMP 017 (Barcode: 662578831112) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Norwegian pianist / composer Michael BlochFind albums by this artist and his trio with bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten pieces, nine of which are originals by Bloch and one is a standard. The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow Studio in Oslo. The music is melodic mainstream piano trio Jazz, lyrical and romantic, obviously designed to be pleasing and entertaining, without any compromise as far as the Jazz aesthetics is concerned. The beautiful melodies are carefully woven and put together to present a consistent and coherent program, which is a showcase of elegance and finesse. The execution is also perfectly suited for the delicate nature of the music, with superb interplay between the trio members, which results in the trio sounding as a cohesive whole rather than being a gathering of three individual players. Bloch is wonderfully fluid, with great dynamics, which range from gentle touches of the keyboard to energetically swinging chords. His solo piano treatment of the standard is a classic showcase of piano artistry. Berg fills the bottom and harmonizes perfectly with the piano, playing several excellent bass solos along the way. Thoren moves the music ahead energetically, but gently without being obtrusive. Altogether this is archetypal example of what piano trio Jazz is all about. For piano trio Jazz connoisseurs this album is a must of course, not only because it offers excellent music, but also because it sounds absolutely wonderful as far as the recording quality is concerned. It allows the listener to relax and let the music take charge, embarking on a wonderful journey. Great gift for the long cold winter nights ahead of us!

Updated: 31/10/2017Posted: 31/10/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JERVE / THORNTON / THOREN ~ CIRCUMSTANCES AMP 019 (Barcode: 662578831136) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Jazz piano trio comprising of Norwegian pianist / composer Kjetil JerveFind albums by this artist, British bassist Tim ThorntonFind albums by this artist and Swedish (resident in Norway) drummer Anders ThorenFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, three of which are original composition by Jerve, two are by Thornton and one is a collective composition by the trio members. Of the remaining tracks, two are standards and one is a surprising inclusion of a composition by the great Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist (RIP). The album was recorded at the legendary Rainbow studio in Oslo and offers excellent sound quality. This album is somewhat surprising in view of Jerve´s debut album released a year earlier ("New York ImprovisationsFind albums with this title"), which was quite freely improvised. The music on this album shows another face of his musical personality, and is dominated by highly melodic, mostly slow tempo ballads, full of melancholy and reflection and some highly swinging pieces. It is great to see such versatility in Jerve´s approach to Jazz, which of course is by its nature a multifaceted idiom. Of course Jerve is, as I have stated already in other reviews, a superb pianist with excellent technique but more importantly also a great feel for the music, which enables him to change his dynamics and even the entire approach to his instrument on the fly. He is definitely one of the most interesting Nordic pianists lately and someone worth watching closely. The rhythm section on this album displays significantly more presence and input than in most contemporary piano trios these days. Thornton is a very powerful and wonderfully precise bassist and his deep pulsations are there up front almost at the same volume with the piano. His playing is inventive and fascinating and simply can not be ignored by the listener. Thoren does a grand job as usual, with his unique rhythmic artistry, which also becomes an integral part of the overall sound. To summarize, this is a brilliant piano trio album, which should make the many connoisseurs of this particular variety of Jazz extremely happy, but of course all Jazz fans should find this very satisfactory. Another excellent release on the small independent Norwegian label AMPFind albums on this label Records, which is proving that small independent labels can be (and very often are) better than the bigger sharks ;) Well done!

Updated: 01/12/2017Posted: 01/12/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ALOFT QUARTET ~ FIRST YEAR AMP 020 (Barcode: 662578831143) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by a young Scandinavian Jazz quartet called Aloft QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Danish saxophonist Simon BalvigFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Rasmus SorensenFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Jon HenrikssonFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Amund KleppanFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, four by Balvig, two by Henriksson and one each by Sorenson and Kleppan. The music sits well within the modern mainstream melodic Jazz idiom, spiced with the Scandinavian flair full of melancholy and lyricism and distinct sound ambience a la ECMFind albums on this label. The tunes are all well structured and coherent harmonically, which turns listening to the album into a pleasant experience. The individual performances are all solid and technically perfect. Balvig is especially impressive on the baritone sax, Sorensen plays wonderful arpeggios and is exquisitely melodic, Henriksson is also very melodic and solid, keeping the quartet together and Kleppan is a versatile and precise rhythm keeper. Together the quartet sounds like a well oiled music machine, which considering the young age of these musicians is praiseworthy. Overall this is a promising debut album, which shows lots of potential for the future. The level of the young musicians today is constantly getting higher and debut albums are often hardly distinguishable from those recorded by veterans. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 16/02/2018Posted: 16/02/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

NILASALIN ~ NILASALIN AMP 021 (Barcode: 662578831150) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz quintet NilasaliNFind albums by this artist, which consists of trombonist Nils Andreas GransethFind albums by this artist, guitarist Magnus Jonnum GrimnesFind albums by this artist, pianist Martin Sandvik GjerdeFind albums by this artist, bassist Stian Andreas Egeland AndersenFind albums by this artist and drummer Magnus Sefaniassen EideFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, seven composed by Granseth and one each by Andersen, Gjerde and Grimnes. The music is a highly melodic modern European Jazz, with an unusual trombone / guitar front line, which creates a unique ambience. As it often happens with Norwegian bands, the wonderful calm and minimalistic atmosphere presides over the entire proceeding, with every note played exactly in its proper place and perfectly in harmony with everything else that is happening around. Introvert and melancholic, the beautiful melodies develop slowly and reveal layer after layer of harmonic aesthetics. The individual performances by the quintet members are also superb from start to finish. Granseth, who obviously steers the music and is the main soloist, has an exquisite trombone sound, round and velvety, which in spite of its limitations proves to be completely in charge and able to play anything between long melodic lines and virtuosic arpeggios, when appropriate. Grimnes plays very tasty licks and manages to stay within the Jazz idiom, avoiding the Fusion excursions. Gjerde is wonderfully dynamic and plays excellent accompaniment behind the soloists as well as splendid solos. Andersen builds a solid layer upon which the music slides forward effortlessly, always there at the right time, with round and confident pulsations. Eide stays most of the time in the background, with his delicate but sophisticated rhythmic support, which is ideal for this music. Overall this is an astounding debut album, full of superb music and exquisite performances, which offers an unusual sound ambience and continues the Nordic Jazz tradition at its best. The elegance, sophistication and class present herein are simply mind blowing. The album was exceptionally recorded and the sound quality is simply breathtaking. This is definitely one of the best albums that landed on my desk so far in 2018 and to my adversaries I say again – this blows most ECMFind albums on this label albums out of the window, just listen!

Updated: 07/04/2018Posted: 07/04/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CHRISTIAN BALVIG 6-TET ~ MUSIC FOR HUMANS AMP 022 (Barcode: 662578831167) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Danish pianist / composer Christian BalvigFind albums by this artist and his sextet, which is in fact an amalgam of a classic Jazz piano trio and a Classical string trio. In addition to Balvig the other members of the sextet are: bassist Jens Mikkel MadsenFind albums by this artist, drummer Siv Oyunn KjenstadFind albums by this artist, violinist Louise GormFind albums by this artist, violist Mikkel SchrieberFind albums by this artist and cellist Maria EdlundFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Balvig. As expected from the lineup the music is a Jazz-Classical Fusion project, based on highly melodic compositions, which Balvig masterly weaves, and incorporating the string trio layer, which emphasizes the meditative nature of the music. At times the music becomes almost chamber and spiritual in nature, and its slow paste and limited dynamics inspire reflection and contemplation. Stylistically the music floats between cinematic music and European Jazz-Classical explorations, with clear Nordic influences. The individual performances are all spotless and inspired, yet restrained and quite minimalistic at times. Balvig plays single note successions, beautifully supported by Madsen, which are taken over by the strings and ornamented into more harmonically expanded structures. Kjenstad is present only on the more Jazz oriented swinging piano trio parts, which are relatively limited. The music is obviously an ensemble effort and the cooperation between the ensemble members is the essential ingredient contributing to the success of the result. Overall this is a very interesting project, which takes some effort to get into, but creates an intimate connection with the listener, taking him on an imaginary ride through an imaginary musical landscape. This album and the other album Balvig released on the excellent Norwegian label AMPFind albums on this label Records, called "Associated With WaterFind albums with this title", present a talented and dedicated pianist / composer, who is searching to expand his musical horizons within the contemporary European instrumental music, close to Jazz but not limited to its defined areas and terminology. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 07/04/2018Posted: 07/04/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MATHISEN / BREISTEIN ~ GADGETS AMP 024 (Barcode: 662578831174) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by duo comprising of guitarist / composer Svein Rikard MathisenFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / composer Inge Weatherhead BreisteinFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded in a quartet setting with Swedish bassist Johannes VahtFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Raymond Storaunet LavikFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven original pieces, all co-composed by the duo members. The music is melody based modern European Jazz with a strong Nordic flavor, but somewhat more energetic than most Nordic recordings. The tight guitar / saxophone (often unisono) sound is quite characteristic and dominates the proceedings. Both leaders solo extensively following the introductory passages, supported amicably by the rhythm section, which is highly professional but remains in the background most of the time. All the compositions are kept at the same emotional level and similar tempo, which half the way through the album creates a déjà vu impression, which is difficult to shake down. Although the music is fine, it simply fails to take the listener by storm. Nevertheless the album is well played and deserves to be listened to, even if it appears somewhat monotonic. Overall this is an interesting debut effort, which shows a lot of potential, which will probably blossom in the duo´s future projects. It is a fine reflection of the diversity of the contemporary Norwegian Jazz. Guitar fans will find here many licks, which are a delight to listen to.

Updated: 04/10/2018Posted: 04/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KARMEN ROIVASSEPP ~ DANCE OF SOUNDS AMP 025 (Barcode: 662578831181) ~ ESTONIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Estonian (resident in Denmark) vocalist / composer Karmen RoivasseppFind albums by this artist and her quartet which also includes pianist Simon EskildsenFind albums by this artist, bassist Adrian ChristensenFind albums by this artist and drummer Daniel SommerFind albums by this artist. A couple of musicians guest on one track each. The album presents eight songs, six composed by Roivassepp (two featuring her lyrics), one by Eskildsen and one is a standard. The songs are sung in Estonian and English. The music is classic melody based mainstream Jazz, but definitely not trivial due to the high level of the compositions, which are well structured and harmonically coherent. The piano trio supports the singer beautifully and plays some excellent instrumental passages, with Eskildsen demonstrating his magic touch on the keyboards. The vocals are fine but hardly innovative or exceptional. Roivassepp has a good voice, but lacks probably the experience Jazz vocals are usually based upon. I am sure she will improve significantly over time, and if she keeps writing such great songs as those on this album, her future prospects are all positive. Her singing in Estonian is way better than in English, which is of course the persisting problem with singers not singing in their native language. Overall this is a very good debut album, which Roivassepp can be proud of, especially on the compositional level. I am already eagerly waiting to hear her next album.

Updated: 04/10/2018Posted: 04/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

SLOW IS THE NEW FAST ~ SLOW AMP 027 (Barcode: 662578831204) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Norwegian Jazz quintet Slow Is The New FastFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Lyder Ovreas RoedFind albums by this artist, violinist Hans Palsen KjorstadFind albums by this artist, pianist Bjorn-Even Bjarkli VerbekeFind albums by this artist, bassist Joel RingFind albums by this artist (from Sweden) and drummer Tore LjokelsoyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Roed and one by Verbeke. The music is melodic, but open enough to allow complex improvising structures. It amalgamates many influences, like most of young European Jazz today, starting with the Jazz tradition but embracing Folklore and contemporary Classical trends. One of the compositions is dedicated to the famous Polish Classical composer Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist, which defines in a way the frame of mind this music was created in. The music is mostly low key and melancholic, but at all times absorbing and fascinating. The individual performances are all excellent, again as usual with the young European Jazz musicians. The use of violin, which is still quite rare today, influences the quintet general sound and atmosphere and is definitely a very interesting choice. But all three soloists deliver both interesting solo statements and first class collective playing. The rhythm section supports the music amicably, with the bass playing a more dominant role than the drums, which are mostly delicate and just right for this kind of music. Overall the album has a very ECMFind albums on this label-like sound and atmosphere (and I mean ECM in the seventies, when it was really creative and daring). This album is definitely a very impressive debut, full of inspiration and talent, which shows enormous potential for the future, as well as the strength of the young Norwegian Jazz scene, which keeps producing consistently great music in the last decade. I am already looking forward to the next album by this quintet.

Updated: 03/10/2018Posted: 03/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

LITTLE BALCONY ~ LITTLE BALCONY AMP 028 (Barcode: 662578831228) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Norwegian Jazz quartet Little BalconyFind albums by this artist comprising of vocalist Thea Emilie WangFind albums by this artist, pianist Martin Sandvik GjerdeFind albums by this artist, bassist Henrik Sandstad DalenFind albums by this artist and drummer Kenneth Enes KristoffersenFind albums by this artist. Two guest musicians appear on a couple of tracks. The album presents eight original tunes, seven composed by Kristoffersen and one by Dalen. Wang wrote all the lyrics except for three tunes on which they were co-written by Kristoffersen and Dalen wrote the lyrics to the song he also composed. The music is very melodic and almost entirely melancholic, with strong Nordic atmosphere and dark lyricism. The songs are relatively short, concentrating on the delivery of the tune without much improvisation or soloing, but the Jazzy feeling is there at all times. Wang sings in English, which is a mistake, as her pronunciation of the lyrics is imprecise, but her vocal delivery is very interesting, theatrical and highly emotional. She is at the epicenter of the music at all times, skillfully using also vocalese, when appropriate. The piano trio performs in a wonderful minimalist manner, with the piano stating the melody lines and the rhythm section keeping the pulse of the music beating, which is a wonderful example of "less is more". One of the tracks is a solo bass performance, which is definitely one of the highlights of the album. Although the album might be perceived as a Pop / Jazz effort, it is by no means trivial or simplistic and except for the title track it is even quite challenging. Overall this is definitely a very ambitious debut effort, which leaves us all waiting for more, especially since the album´s duration is rather short (under half an hour).

Updated: 02/10/2018Posted: 02/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

SONDRE FERSTAD ENSEMBLE ~ MINIMAL AMP 029 (Barcode: 662578831235) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the Norwegian ensemble led by harmonica player / composer Sondre FerstadFind albums by this artist, which is a double quartet (or an octet) combining a Jazz quartet and a Classical string quartet. The Jazz quartet includes also pianist Vegard Lien BjerkanFind albums by this artist, bassist Morten Berger StaiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wilhelm WestermanFind albums by this artist. A guest percussionist plays on two tracks. The album presents ten original pieces, all composed by Ferstad, three of which are variation on the same theme. Although originally conceived as a purely musical endeavor, the music became a part of a Jazz & Poetry project including poems written to accompany the music by poet Lars Saabye ChristensenFind albums by this artist – a rather unusual development as Jazz & Poetry projects usually have music written around poems and not vice versa like in this case. The album presents only the music. The music is highly original in many respects: The harmonica is rarely used as the leading instrument in Jazz (or any other music in fact), a double quartet is also a pretty rare lineup, but most importantly the compositions by Ferstad, which are an exquisite example of contemporary European Jazz, which recognizes no boundaries or stylistic limitations and is open to every form of intellectual pollination. The title is somewhat misleading as the music is only partly minimalist, often exploring strong melodic themes and sophisticated arrangements. But the element of minimalism is certainly present in the execution layer, when the Jazz quartet improvises using notes sparingly. Of course the influence of contemporary Classical music is felt strongly and becomes even dominant at some moments. Long parts of the music flow very slowly and require patience and persistence, but they are a part of a natural flow, which eventually embraces with its emotional radiance. Overall this is a wonderful serving of highly aesthetic and simulating music, which absorbs the listener completely but requires attentive listening and open-minded approach. Serious music connoisseurs will find here many elements of musical delight and a constant source of discovery with each consecutive listening session. This album is definitely one of the most interesting pieces of music that arrived on my desk this year (2018) and the fact that it was released by the small independent Norwegian label AMPFind albums on this label Music proves that great music can by created anywhere and that big record companies have absolutely no artistic advantage over the struggling but persistent independents, as music is after all first and foremost about individuality. Hats off!

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

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

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

NIKOLA BANKOV ~ BRIGHT FUTURE AMP 051 (Barcode: 662578831310) ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by young Slovak Jazz saxophonist / composer Nikola BankovFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with young Danish musicians: guitarist Jonas GravlundFind albums by this artist, keyboardist August KorsgaardFind albums by this artist, bassist Jens Mikkel MadsenFind albums by this artist and drummer John RiddellFind albums by this artist. NY based saxophonist Seamus BlakeFind albums by this artist guests on five of the seven tracks of the album, all of which were composed by Bankov. The music offers a fresh, up to date sound with synthesized layers of electronics, atmospheric sheets of guitar reverberations and highly energetic rhythm section, with the saxophone (or saxophones) riding on top of the dense background. But there are also contemplative, relaxed moments, still crusted with electronics, but much less intensive. Beautiful melodic themes are carefully weaved along the way. Bankov managed to create a unique ensemble sound, which becomes an integral part of the music itself, which is very rare these days. The individual performances by all the musicians are nothing short of stunning and awe inspiring, especially considering the age factor. In view of the fact that Bankov is only twenty years old, God only knows what he will come up with next. The ensemble communication is remarkable and the resulting music is extremely effective, almost "physically" overwhelming, which might need getting into by less experienced listeners, but is definitely striking from the first exposure. Although European Jazz is incredibly creative at all times, it is relatively rare that somebody comes up with a new formula, which combines Jazz, Rock, Electronics and Ambient so effectively as what can be experienced on this album. As usual in such cases it completely shuns any attempt of genre definition and simply defines itself. Is this the future of Jazz? Well, since it is already here, it is certainly one of the possible directions. Overall this is certainly a stunning debut effort, which hits the listener right between the ears. It is very rare that music of such immediate impact lands on my desk, but when it does it is instantly recognizable. There is something for everybody here, providing one wishes to be open minded and let the music sink right into one´s soul. A revelation! Godspeed to all young Lions, bright future indeed!

Updated: 15/09/2019Posted: 15/09/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

FREDERIK VILLMOW ~ LIVE IN COPENHAGEN AMP 052 (Barcode: 013415901510) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by the young German (resident in Norway) Jazz drummer Frederik VillmowFind albums by this artist recorded with his quartet which also includes German saxophonist Marc DoffeyFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Carl WintherFind albums by this artist and Norwegian bassist Julian HauglandFind albums by this artist. The quartet is expanded into a quintet with the addition of the veteran Swedish saxophonist Tomas FranckFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the legendary Jazzhus Montmartre club in Copenhagen and presents seven tracks, five of which are original compositions (three by Villmow and two by Franck) and two are standards. The music is typical European modern mainstream, mostly post Bebop oriented, based on solid melodic themes, which serve as basis for extended improvisations by the quintet members. The album does not venture into any experimental ground and stays on solid conventional Jazz path. The focus of the album is on the fiery, scorching soloing by the saxophonists and the pianist, which offers an intense barrage of notes and superb highly energetic virtuosic display of Jazz energy, except for one intimate duo track (sax and bass). The rhythm section supports the soloists formidably and with an obvious display of youthful energy, which suits the music perfectly. The ensemble playing, especially considering the fact that this is a live recording, is excellent and all the musicians seem to be in high spirits obviously enjoying the opportunity to play together. Overall this is a classic, highly energetic mainstream Jazz album, full of excellent music and heartfelt performances, which should satisfy any true Jazz lover around the globe. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 23/09/2019Posted: 23/09/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MISCEO ~ BETTER WORD FOR LOVE AMP 069 (Barcode: 013415901787) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by international ensemble MisceoFind albums by this artist, which combines a classic Jazz piano trio and a Classical string duo: Finnish pianist Artturi RonkaFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Adrian ChristensenFind albums by this artist, Danish drummer Frederik BulowFind albums by this artist, Danish violinist Kern WesterbergFind albums by this artist and Polish cellist Joasia CieslakFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four composed by Bulow and three by Christensen. The music is wonderfully innovative and contemporary, bridging the Jazz and Classical idioms into a new, integral entity, which balances between the two universes and manages to create a perfect hybrid. Anybody expecting another "Jazz & Strings" album could not be further from what the listener will experience on this album. Misceo, which was founded by Bulow and Cieslak, manages to fulfill the initial intent of bringing together different elements on the same level of substance, which is definitely not an easy task. There is a stylistic difference between the compositions by Bulow, which are mostly based on strong polyrhythmic and odd meters, which are emphasized by his dynamic drum parts, whereas those by Christensen tend to be more lyrical and tranquil, which creates a certain balance as far as the entire album is concerned. The performances are, as expected, all stellar and these talented and experienced musicians contribute wholeheartedly to create a magical expedition into contemporary music, which is both aesthetically fulfilling and intellectually challenging. The music was excellently recorded, which is very important to present the intricate details of this music and capture the unique ambience. Kudos to the ambitious Norwegian AMPFind albums on this label label, which in the last few years established its position on the vanguard European (mostly Scandinavian) recorded music. Overall this is an important, innovative album, which truly deserves the attention of European music connoisseurs, who are able to "think outside the box" in search of new and uncharted musical experiences. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 26/06/2020Posted: 26/06/2020

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

OYVIND MATHISEN ~ GET YOUR GOAT AMP 110 (Barcode: 013415902104) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022 This is the second album by young Norwegian Jazz trumpeter / composer Oyvind MathisenFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist / bass clarinetist Alexander DellerhagenFind albums by this artist, pianist Petter DalaneFind albums by this artist and bassist Alf HoinesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Mathisen and one by Dellerhagen. The music is absolutely wonderful from start to finish, full of clever and highly original compositions, all characterized by one weird twist or another, either melodically or rhythmically or both. Although melody based, the music has many degrees of freedom and is full of great sense of humor, which is a “deadly” combination as far as I am concerned. The drumless quartet offers also a very unusual sound, sometimes with a vaudeville feel, circus or street music atmosphere, flirting with familiar Jazz forms and yet being not there in full. The entire duration of the album is a brilliant journey into the unexpected, which happens sadly so rarely these days. The individual performances are all marvelous, but it is the quartet sound as a whole that matters here, with the superb balance, or lack of it, between the instruments, which often play solo, duo and trio passages as well. The entire performance is a crazy seesaw ride, truly unforgettable. Overall, this album shines with originality, talent and sophistication, and as such is one of the finest releases I had the pleasure to listen to this year. Wholeheartedly recommended to all open-minded Jazz listeners around the world. Obviously these musicians are now on my close watch list!

Updated: 14/10/2022Posted: 14/10/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

SANDRA BOROY ~ PARALLELLER AMP 120 (Barcode: 013415902234) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Norwegian singer / songwriter Sandra BoroyFind albums by this artist, recorded with trumpeter Idar Eliassen PedersenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Simen SkrebergeneFind albums by this artist, bassist Asle BrathenFind albums by this artist and drummer Marius Troan HansenFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist John Rune JakobsenFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The album presents ten original songs, all by the leader, with lyrics in Norwegian. The music continues the highly idiosyncratic approach initiated on the debut album, with darkly atmospheric melody lines and obvious Nordic influence, which has nothing in common with the standard vocal Jazz tradition. The melodies are complex and demanding, and combined by intensive instrumental accompaniment by trumpet and distorted guitar, create very unique sonic vistas, which have little parallels elsewhere. Although the music itself is not really Jazz oriented, the dense instrumental improvisations push it towards the Jazz idiom, is such classification means anything. The excellent rhythm section manages to stay respectfully in the background, audible only when really needed. Boroy, who also plays Rhodes electric piano, often overdubs her vocals and uses studio techniques to create captivating vocal effects, which add to the aura this music conveys, and suit the music perfectly. She treats her voice as another instrument in the ensemble, often singing along with the trumpet, which is the most dominant instrument, again creating a strange effect. In short the music is wonderfully weird, which is exactly what often makes music great. Overall, although the music might sound a tad depressing at first hearing, it is a beautiful piece of human communication, with splendid originality and creativity, which reflects the Nordic melancholy at its best and should be able to reach many hearts around the world. Boroy certainly deserves to be on the watch list with her future explorations.

Updated: 02/11/2022Posted: 02/11/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

JAZZPOSPOLITA ~ ALMOST SPLENDID AMPERSAND 20 (Barcode: 5906485781005) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Polish group JazzpospolitaFind albums by this artist, which consists of guitarist Michal Przerwa-TetmajerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Michal ZaleskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Stefan NowakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech OleksiakFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions (ten tracks with one tune repeated as a remix), all assumedly co-composed by all four band members. As it sometimes happens, I listened to this album after being already familiar with the band´s later work, therefore I can only imagine what my reaction would have been if I listened to it at the time of its release a few years earlier. Speculations aside, it still is a pretty amazing piece of music and a stunning debut. Arriving on such a busy scene as the Polish Jazz and alternative Rock with a spectacular, fresh and innovative album, which is completely different from almost anything that is already there, is truly remarkable. This album defines the musical "language", which the group follows since its inception, which is quite difficult to define verbally. It is a mixture of melodic Ambient Music with Jazz improvisations, Rock rhythmic patterns and alternative Rock sonorities, which sounds simply different from anything else. For people desperately in need of known references from the past, it is somewhat comparable to the music released on the legendary "Buddha Bar" series, with many of the Chill-out and Lounge elements present but with the World Music references replaced by Jazzier vibes. Regardless of the similarities, which might serve as points of reference, this music is fresh, exciting and sophisticated, which by itself is already quite rare. Combined with delicate melodic themes and first-class execution this album is by all means a very important step on the local music scene, proving that excellent music can be accessible to a large population of listeners, without even a hint of compromise and selling out. In the last few days I have listened to this album repeatedly and I´m pretty sure it´s there to stay on my short playlist for a while. Anybody not familiar with Jazzpospolita should definitely seek this little gem out ASAP and follow with their later albums. As far as I am concerned there is absolutely no "almost" involved herein; Splendid indeed!

Updated: 25/03/2017Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZPOSPOLITA ~ IMPULSE AMPERSAND 26 (Barcode: 5906485781715) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the 2nd album (not counting their early EP) by the young Polish ensemble JazzpospolitaFind albums by this artist (Jazz Republic in Polish), one of the many very interesting ensembles emerging recently on the local scene. The current lineup of the group includes guitarist Michal Przerwa-TetmajerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Michal ZaleskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Stefan NowakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech OleksiakFind albums by this artist. The album consists of eight tracks, which are all original compositions (no compositional credits are given on the album´s packaging). Although obviously deeply rooted in the Jazz tradition (as their name suggests), the group expands their influences into other areas as well, including Rock, electronic and ambient. The music includes plenty of improvisation, but the overall sound is pretty metallic and electronic, which is quite innovative on one hand but often difficult to swallow on the other. They are clearly cross-genre, still searching for a unique identity, but their path of experimentation and reaching beyond the obvious is commendable. In the more "conventional" pieces they sound pretty much Jazz-Rock, but on the more advanced / experimental pieces their sound could be called Psychedelic and even Spacey. Obviously there is a lot of versatility herein and listeners, who like to be surprised and kept in suspense, will enjoy this immensely. The nature of the music makes it quite difficult to estimate the individual talents and abilities of the ensemble members; well perhaps it is for the best, as the ensemble sound is exactly their forte. Whatever one thinks about this music, one thing is sure: these young musicians do their thing, which is more that most of their contemporaries do. This album is highly recommended to the more adventurous listeners, who are not afraid to struggle with first impressions and harsh sounds, and are willing to give this music a second chance. Eventually there is a high probability this will become some of their favorite music in the long term. Impressive stuff!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAZZPOSPOLITA ~ REPOLISHED JAZZ AMPERSAND 29 (Barcode: 5906485782422) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2009 - 2012 Released: 2012 This is the third album by Polish group JazzpospolitaFind albums by this artist, which consists of guitarist Michal Przerwa-TetmajerFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Michal ZaleskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Stefan NowakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech OleksiakFind albums by this artist. In fact this album hardly counts as another stage in the group´s recorded legacy, as technically in includes no new contributions by the group per se. The first CD of this double CD release includes six remixes (one of the tunes is included in two different remix versions) of their material from the previous two albums, created by other artists, while the second CD is a reissue of their early EP from 2009, which was not formally released previously. As usual there are no composition credits anywhere on the album´s artwork, so the assumption is that the group members share the credits. Considering that both CDs are about 25 minutes in duration, it seems that this album is one huge ego trip, which hardly justifies the lavish (and obviously expensive) packaging and the entire hullabaloo about it. The music could easily fit on one CD and a much modest packaging would have done the job. A numbered limited edition is a luxury artists have first to earn by producing some viable product. It is nice to have the "legendary" EP finally released, but the group did move ahead since it was released and in retrospect it does not really hold the ground that well. Yes it was innovative at the time, but also very amateurish in many respects. Nevertheless, regardless of the many labels the "critics" stick to their music, Jazzpospolita was quite unique and interesting from the very start, which is already a great achievement. The remixes, on the other hand, are a complete waste of time, completely unattached to the original music and make no sense whatsoever. Aesthetically there is nothing exciting about the way they are done, not is there any innovation in it. Personally I think that they do injustice to the original music, which is interesting enough and does not need to be transformed into other musical planes. Overall life is, as experienced people know, a game of Hit or Miss, and this album is somewhat on the miss side, which of course is quite normal and happens to the best. The road to hell is paved with good intensions...

Updated: 25/03/2017Posted:

CD 2 Digipak Box Set Recommend To A Friend

NEJTEK / HRUBY / HONZAK / SOLTIS ~ PHOENIX AMPLION 152001 (Barcode: 8594179220021) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by a quartet comprising of four experienced Czech Jazz musicians: keyboardist Michal NejtekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Pavel HrubyFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist and drummer Daniel SoltisFind albums by this artist. The concept, conceived by the label’s owner and producer Alexej CharvatFind albums by this artist, was to gather the musicians without any preparation and let them improvise together, creating spontaneous compositions. The album presents nine tracks with eight compositions (one repeated twice), and offers a spectacular sound quality, as usual with recordings made at the SONO Records studio under the supervision of Charvat and help from Milan CimfeFind albums by this artist. Despite the fact that the music is completely improvised and spontaneous, the result offers a remarkable melodic content, which makes listening to the music not only “easier”, but above all instantly acceptable and embraceable. Of course some of the improvisations are pretty “wild”, but the music stays at all times completely coherent and “organized” and even well behaved, which is pretty astonishing, and could be labelled as oxymoronic “Organized Freedom”. In the liner notes of the album all four musicians state their opinions concerning free improvisation, which are very enlightening and to some extent also explain the success of the music making found on this album. Obviously such music requires a lot of mutual respect and complete abandonment of the respective egos, as well as a lot of experience and open-mindedness, all of which can be found here aplenty. Personally I think that everything works so well thanks to Honzak’s incredible performances not only as a virtuoso bassist, but mostly as creator of the adhesiveness that keeps everything together, an invisible “dark matter” without each the universe would collapse. Of course all the musicians contribute absolutely wonderfully, but Honzak is for me the pivotal ingredient. Overall this is a stunning piece of music, which opens a window into the incredible Czech Jazz scene, which has truly a lot to offer and is worth following, same as the Jazz made in its southern neighbor Poland, which gains more worldwide popularity lately. The delicate and deeply European aesthetics that prevails over most of the Czech Jazz is a unique phenomenon deserving a much wider worldwide recognition that it enjoys at the moment, hopefully to be improved in the future. Fans of Improvised Music at its best incarnation should be delighted with this album, which is naturally wholeheartedly recommended.

Updated: 12/02/2021Posted: 12/02/2021

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

INNER SPACES ~ JARNI / VERNAL AMPLION 172001 (Barcode: 8594179225576) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by Czech / Polish quintet Inner SpacesFind albums by this artist which comprises of Czech trumpeter Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist and pianist Vit KristanFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, three composed by Balcarova and two each by Soukup and Kristan. The music was recorded live during a concert at the Czech Radio. The music is typical modern Eastern European Jazz, with excellent compositions full of melancholy and lyricism and a rather foggy atmosphere of contemplation and anticipation, personally for me evoking fond memories of Czechoslovak New Wave cinema, with the film noir influences and characteristic black and white imagery, also present in Polish cinema at the time. I don´t know why, but this music sounds to me like something that might have been recorded in the 1960s rather than 2010s, which is of course meant as a compliment. All the members of the quintet are seasoned players with considerable recording legacy behind them, and their performances on this album attest to their technical proficiency and artistic depth. The music is performed with a certain modesty and reserve, with the soloing being far from flashy displays of abilities and more a matter of elegance and good taste. Considering the fact that this music was recorded live, the final result is truly impressive. Although this music seems perhaps not very innovative or far reaching, it manages ideally to preserve the qualities of the Eastern European Jazz tradition, and by creating the retro atmosphere, also pay tribute to the decades during which Jazz functioned under an oppressive regime where it managed not only to prevail but also break the glass ceiling (or the Iron Curtain). As a result this album is not only a superb piece of Jazz music, but also a time of reflection and remembrance of an era, that happened before any of these wonderful musicians were born, but which they inherited in their cultural genetic code. God bless for the music and for invoking the memories!

Updated: 08/11/2020Posted: 08/11/2020

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

EMIL VIKLICKY / PAVEL HRUBY ~ BETWEEN US AMPLION 202001 (Barcode: 8594179222018) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is a wonderful album by a duo of Czech Jazz musicians: veteran pianist / composer (and a friend since many years) Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / clarinetist Pavel HrubyFind albums by this artist, who plays solely the bass clarinet this time. The album presents twelve tracks, eleven of which are original compositions (five by Viklicky, three by Hruby and three co-composed by them) and one is a standard. Although separated by a generation, Viklicky (born 1948) and Hruby (born 1970) fit together perfectly, playing a series of delicate, almost romantic and very personal pieces, with the rather unusual piano / bass clarinet ambience creating a magic effect. The mesmerizing music penetrated directly the listener’s heart demanding unconditional surrender. Although most of the music is very melodic, some of the tracks explore more improvised approach, which is much more adventurous. But the overall atmosphere remains closely related to melodic Jazz, in the best meaning of the expression. Although naturally Hruby is heard up front more often than Viklicky, the duets are perfectly balanced and Viklicky’s role as accompanist is as much important and significant as Hruby’s soloing. Personally I hear a lot of Hassidic / Jewish influences in Hruby’s playing on this album, perhaps subconsciously invoked by the clarinet sound and modulations, which are absolutely delightful. Viklicky soloes rather sparingly here, but his superb touch and feel are easily recognizable by his followers and he is a Master in total control of his instrument. Overall this album is a proud addition to the European “Art of the Duo” idiom, presenting some highly aesthetic Jazz music, which is penetrating and keeps the listener on edge for the entire duration. Both accessible and highly artistic at the same time, this is an excellent specimen of the Czech Jazz scene, which is highly recommended and worth following. Kudos are certainly due to both musicians and it is heartwarming to see Emil so active and productive these days. Combined with a superb sound quality and separation this album offers, which allows every little nuance to be audible, it is a wholeheartedly recommended gem!

Updated: 07/02/2021Posted: 07/02/2021

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend