Apr 7 2015
Recommended: Daniel Herskedal – “Slow Eastbound Train”
So gorgeous, it’s stunning. With Slow Eastbound Train, tubist (yes, tubist) Daniel Herskedal provides yet more evidence that the cumbersome tuba can make the most graceful music. His core trio of himself, pianist Eyolf Dale and percussionist Helge Andreas Norbakken are joined by a chamber string orchestra (The Trondheim Soloists) for some beautiful, ambient third-stream music and Nordic folk-jazz.
Several tracks create an environment from which the other album tracks spring from. Album-opener “The Mistral Noir” is all kinds of serene ambiance, a murmuring tone that throws down a gauntlet of beauty-at-all-costs. Tracks like “The Solar Winds Effects On Earth” and “Sea Breeze” reinforce that goal, with the latter track ending the album in just the same way it began.
“Rainfall” is an example of an album track that lets the jazz influence emerge with a clearer definition… an approach primarily manifested by the core trio of tuba-piano-percussion. But for the most part, the ascendant influences are those of classical and folk.
This is especially evident in tracks like “Slow Eastbound Boat” and the title-track “Slow Eastbound Train.” Both proffer up an alluring beauty, and the way Herskedal melts his tuba into the waves of string harmonies is simply gorgeous, not to mention so counterintuitive to the instrument’s lumbering reputation. It makes for some inspiring moments.
Other standout tracks:
With a strong classical and folk music influence, “Bydlo” possesses a sweeping majesty that’s subdued just the right amount to ratchet up an undercurrent of tension without having to blow the lid off with a grand statement.
“Snowfall” begins with a bit of string section theatrics, not exactly appealing, but the way the core trio of tuba, piano and percussion cuts through the center makes perfect sense out of it all. The contrast between the two states of being… pop classical and straight-ahead jazz trio… really allows the intelligence of the composition to emerge.
This is an album that doesn’t limit the ways in which it expresses beauty.
Your album personnel: Daniel Herskedal (tuba, bass trumpet), Eyolf Dale (piano), Helge Andreas Norbakken (percussion) and The Trondheim Soloists (string chamber orchestra).
Listen to more of the album on Bandcamp.
Released on Edition Records.
Music from the Oslo, Norway scene.
Available at: Bandcamp – eMusic – Amazon
*****
Here’s a nifty, quick promo video for the album. As this site has illustrated previously, many times, I’m sucker for trains in music videos.
*****
Apr 8 2015
Recommended: Bjorn Jansson – “Genklang”
A recent under-the-radar album I’ve been enjoying lately is Genklang, from saxophonist Björn Jansson. Its easy-to-like mix of modern jazz, Nordic folk, and all-around alluring moodiness is a nice example of some of the music coming out of Sweden.
The album’s opening tracks come out with the grand statements. “Begynnelsen” works it from an harmonic angle, while “Upp Igen” takes long loping strides and punctuates the statements of melody and its solos with a sense of finality. And then there’s the way in which the powerful expressions of “Green Turned Blue” are able to maintain a drifting ambiance throughout.
A few tracks hover between states of introspection and torpor. Both “Temat” and “Skogen Vaknar” keep motion to a minimum while developing strong atmospherics, creating a contemplative tone that is really quite captivating.
“Du Går Aldrig Ensam” breaks from the torpor with a brisk pace and a lovely tuneful delivery. “Rastlös Psalm” keeps the brisk pace going and doesn’t let up on the loveliness. And “Strömmen” doesn’t slow things down even as it dives headfirst into the deep end of the melodic pool.
The upbeat “Mellan Stjärnorna” and “Mistral” work a contemporary angle, hinting at a bit of bop without changing the face of the album. This cohesion is imperative to this recording, as it is then able to end with the short, ambient piece “Skogen Brinner” without appearing out of sorts… a peaceful conclusion to an album that always found a ways to provide it.
Your album personnel: Björn Jansson (tenor sax, bass clarinet), Tobias Wiklund (flugelhorn, trumpet), Adam Forkelid (piano), Clas Lassbo (bass) and Daniel Fredriksson (drums, cymbals).
Listen to more of the album on the artist’s Soundcloud page.
Released on Reach-Up Music.
Jazz from the Stockholm, Sweden scene.
Available at: eMusic | Amazon
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2015 Releases • 0