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Bobby Bradford / Frode Gjerstad / Ingebrigt Haker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love: Kampen
ByThe fervent interplay between the two horns is one of the enduring traits of their partnership. Bradford's earthy cornet forms the perfect foil for Gjerstad's sinuous spiraling clarinet and wiry alto saxophone. A stuttered reveille comprises the basic building block for the American, which he deploys in a variety of guises, from the breathy fragments in dialogue with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten's muscular bass at the start of "This Is," to the sprightly fanfares atop drummer Paal Nilssen-Love's crisply rolled crescendos at the outset of "A Live." Bradford's insistent clipped phrases mesh well with Håker Flaten's purposeful strum to create a firm foundation which allows the reedman and drummer to roam both more widely and wildly.
Fine moments abound throughout. Gjerstad makes an explosive alto statement on "Recording From," tonally diverse, exciting and unpredictable, while on "Kampen, Oslo" Bradford essays a quizzical lyricism, like someone whistling a half-remembered tune, all the while goosed by Nilssen-Love's squally tattoo. On the same piece, the bassist steps out for a powerful plucked excursion, where his forthright physicality adds a percussive dimension to his woody melodicism. But notwithstanding the excellence of the individual parts, it is in the cockpit of intense group exchange that these four triumph.
Track Listing
This Is; A Live; Recording From; Kampen, Oslo.
Personnel
Frode Gjerstad
saxophone, altoBobby Bradford: cornet; Frode Gjerstad: clarinet, alto saxophone, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten: bass; Paal Nilssen-Love: drums.
Album information
Title: Kampen | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: NoBusiness Records
Comments
About Frode Gjerstad
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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