Aug 30 2012
The Safety Net: Einar Scheving – “Cycles”
The Icelandic Jazz sound produces notes that linger, frozen in the air, yet still emit a warmth that makes for the kind of early morning music that allows one to slowly rise to the day. Einar Scheving embodies the beauty and languor of the Icelandic Jazz sound as well as anybody on the scene.
Some albums are like stories. The music of Cycles is ethereal and vivid, like a story that unfolds within a dream.
Take into account opening track “Sveitin.” What begins as a tranquil lullaby transitions into a fluttering coda of saxophone murmurs and rhythms like a chorus of crickets. Like dreams, the context takes a sudden turn, yet it all makes sense in that elastic way logic plays out in slumber. Track “Recycles,” is a lilting tune, with piano trills, saxophone yawns. and gently loping percussion.
Icelandic Folk music informs much of Scheving’s compositions. At times it is hinted at, others it shines through bright and strong. Songs like “No One Knows” have an earthiness to them that speak of old stories told many times. Languid sax lines belie sprightly piano notes, while shimmering cymbals and the low hum of bass create a foundation that appears perpetually shifting, morphing at the edges of sound.
Dreams can be dynamic and lively. “Carrots and Ice Cream” dares to wake the dreamer with sharp saxophone and piano interludes, bass and drums upping the heart rate. On “Rebirth” piano grows tension through rapid repetition of notes, while Scheving’s soft cymbal work counterbalances brooding sax. Sverrisson’s bass lines paint black shadows in the piano’s wake.
But above all else, this is an album of serenity:
Third track “3” opens with Svererisson’s bass like footsteps awash in moonlight. Gunnarsson slides his fingers across the piano strings, and the harp-like sound drives the dream-like ambiance in deeper.
“Folk Song” is a pleasant walk through a forest of slightly familiar yet unnameable objects. Gudjonsson and Gunnarsson attain a casual stroll on sax and piano, while Scheving and Sverrisson walk at a different pace; the crosscurrents of their footfalls is hypnotic.
Title-track “Cycles” is a cloudy day and nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the beautiful cloudy day. Piano and sax are out front, but it’s bass that anchors this tune in place.
The album ends with “In Sight,” which recreates the pattern of the opening track, but in reverse. Now is the sense of waking from a dream, stretching arms wide, and greeting the new day sun.
This album is just flat-out beautiful, and emotive as hell. Exactly the kind of overlooked album that I began the Safety Net series for. You ECM addicts should be all over Cycles.
Your album personnel: Einar Scheving (drums, percussion), Skuli Sverrisson (electric & acoustic bass), Eythor Gunnarsson (piano), and Óskar Gudjonsson (tenor sax).
Released in 2007, this album is Self-Produced.
Jazz from the Reykjavík, Iceland scene.
Download a free album track at AllAboutJazz, courtesy of the artist.
Available at eMusic. Available at Amazon: CD
*****
The Safety Net, a Bird is the Worm series which highlights outstanding older albums that may have flown under the radar when first released.
Aug 31 2012
Tiny Reviews: Federico Casagrande, Tyson Naylor, and Fulvio Sigurtà & Claudio Filippini
Tiny Reviews, featuring Federico Casagrande Battle of the Invisible, Tyson Naylor Trio Kosmonauten, and Fulvio Sigurtà & Claudio Filippini Through the Journey.
*****
Federico Casagrande – The Ancient Battle of the Invisible
The guitar of Federico Casagrande likes to ride the crests of waves rather than dive down and swim furiously beneath the water’s surface. On vibes, Jeff Davis works wonders as Casagrande’s counterpart, keeping a furious pace yet never stepping over anybody’s toes. Plenty of heat, but it’s the serene interludes that make the session. Two feet in modern jazz territory, though I would find it unsurprising to learn they listen to Radiohead on the car stereo. There’s a sensibility on this album for moody ambiance without letting up on the gas pedal that reminds me of some of the better Indie-rock acts. This album creates an environment from the first notes and keeps the listener there until the last note is played. Very highly recommended.
Your album personnel: Federico Casagrande (guitar), Jeff Davis (vibes), Simon Tailleu (bass), and Gautier Garrigue (drums).
No audio to embed, but you can stream the entire album on the label’s artist page.
Released on the Cam Jazz label.
Available on eMusic.
Tyson Naylor Trio – Kosmonauten
Pianist Tyson Naylor offers up a piano trio album that suffers from occasional bouts of schizophrenia. Sometimes it’s the catchy hop of Vince Guaraldi, sometimes it’s a prepared piano in a sea of dissonance, sometimes it hears voices in its head that tells it to play melodica, and sometimes a voice drops in that sounds like clarinet. And, somehow, it all works. Nothing boring here, and, thankfully, it doesn’t get so complex as to render it unlistenable. Nifty stuff.
Your album personnel: Tyson Naylor (piano), Skye Brooks (drums), Russell Sholberg (bass), and guest: François Houle (clarinet).
You can stream the entire album on Naylor’s bandcamp page.
Released on the Songlines Recordings label. Available on eMusic.
Fulvio Sigurtà & Claudio Filippini – Through the Journey
Beautiful duo recording of trumpet and piano. One pretty tune after the other, unblemished even when they mix it up a bit. Sparse and serene in that ECM sort of way, but none of the ambient/new age leanings. Jazz, with a modern classical touch here and there, a hint of an inclination to get a little free, but more often than not, keeping things tranquil. Utilitarian use of space and silence; just enough to make their point without it impeding the essential engagement with one another. Quiet late nights or rainy afternoons, this is the album you want to be playing through the speakers.
Your album personnel: Fulvio Sigurtà (trumpet) and Claudio Filippini (piano).
No audio to embed, but you can stream the entire album on the label’s artist page.
Released on the Cam Jazz label.
Available on eMusic.
*****
Portions of the reviews were originally used in my Jazz Picks weekly article for eMusic, so here’s some language protecting their rights as the one to hire me to write about new jazz arrivals to their site…
“New Arrivals Jazz Picks“ and “New Arrivals Jazz Picks“, reprints courtesy of eMusic.com, Inc.
© 2012 eMusic.com, Inc.
As always, my sincere thanks to eMusic for the gig. Cheers.
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2012 Releases • 0