Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Tolvan Big Band: A Walk in the Centerpoint
The Tolvan Big Band: A Walk in the Centerpoint
ByMusic director Helge Albin wrote five of the seven selections on Centerpoint, tenor saxophonist Cennet Jönsson the others, and none of them is a happy-go-lucky walk in the park for the band or the listener. This is music that demands one’s undivided attention. For purposes of comparison, one could say that Tolvan traverses roughly the same territory as Maria Schneider, George Gruntz, Pierre Dorgé, David Murray and other cutting-edge composer / arrangers, but with a little more emphasis on melody and a lot more on swinging.
Both traits become immediately visible on Albin’s propulsive opener, “Centerpoint,” with febrile statements by alto Fredrik Kronkvist, trombonist Ola Åkerman, and pianist Jacob Karlzonwho’s equally impressive whether soloing (“Santiago Nights,” “Running Thoughts”) or comping. Jönsson wrote the richly textured “Papa Knows Best,” on which his full-bodied soprano and Vincent Nilsson’s growling muted trombone are showcased; and Nilsson solos again, with Karlzon, on Albin’s sensuous and serpentine “Santiago Nights.”
Jönsson’s second composition, “Running Thoughts,” is an introspective piece that again features Karlzon, this time alongside Albin’s glossy alto. Albin’s rhythmic “Sideways” picks up the pace, with Jönsson’s soprano and Peter Asplund’s muted trumpet hitting the mark, while the undulating “Brazilian Waves” is a showpiece for Nilsson’s soulful trombone.
The band leaves the same way it entered, opening the throttle wide on Albin’s “Like a Secret” to underline resourceful solos by Albin, Asplund, and tenor Inge Petersson, the last leading to an ending so abrupt and muted that one could be forgiven for presuming that the recording engineer had signaled “time’s up.” This is big-band jazz for adventurous ears, exceptionally well-written by Albin and Jönsson and well-played by the world-class Tolvan Big Band, with the bonus of entertaining and informative liner notes by drummer Billy Cobham.
Track Listing
A Walk in the Centerpoint; Papa Knows Best; Santiago Nights; Running Thoughts; Sideways; Brazilian Waves; Like a Secret (71:01).
Personnel
Tolvan Big Band
band / ensemble / orchestraHelge Albin
saxophone, altoHelge Albin, music director, alto sax, flute; Christer Gustafsson, Anders Gustafsson, Roy Wall, Fredrik Davidsson, Peter Asplund, trumpet, flugelhorn; Fredrik Kronkvist, alto sax, alto flute; Inge Petersson, tenor sax; Cennet J
Album information
Title: A Walk in the Centerpoint | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Prophone Records
< Previous
The Living Music
Next >
Meet Carmine D'Amico
Comments
About Tolvan Big Band
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To