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Bengt Berger: Beches Brew
ByBerger directs his ensemble from behind his battery of percussion instruments, including a conventional drum set. The unique aspect of the music is that, having suggested the form and key in which it is to be playedsometimes no key or form, but just a suggested moodBerger allows it to unfold. Saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and bassist/engineer Sigge Krantz have played with Berger before. Jonas Knutsson brings his mighty collection of saxophones and often plays counterpoint to Gustafsson when they play ensemble passages throughout the record.
At other times Knutsson and Gustafsson take turns to soar like proverbial birds, swooping in and noodling every so often. Knutsson, with his characteristic bright and son-like intonation, flutters in bursts of hot modal excursions, while Gustafsson is more breathy, dallying sensuously with the notes. Mats Öberg plays a variety of keyboards and is a radiant soloist, while guitarist/bassist Max Schultz is a revelation, an inventive player with a sublime sense of melody. Vocalist Lindha Kallerdahl is sensational with her soaring, glacial interpretations of Tor Rasmussen's and Bjorner Torsson's poetry which she turns into beautiful lyrics. Recalling the electric edginess and ferocity of Nina Hagen, she also wails her bluesy way through tracks like "Laila" and "Dagar, Djur," the latter a modal piece based on the Hindustani raga, "Shanmukhapriya," and several other pieces of this suite.
The music swirls through and revitalizes the Swedish folk tradition with pieces such as "Gurlai Kora," a simple ostinato dappled with melodic phrases. "Nada," on the other hand, incorporates rubato phrases, which are improvised over each other. "Familjen Bra" is a wild, swinging improvisation and "Jag Palperar Platons Grotta" is a short musical statement based on Bjorner Torrson's poem, with unforgettable exchanges between the musicians. The suite also pays tribute to the music of the west of Ghana, with "New Gyil" based on the scale of the unique, wooden pentatonic funeral xylophone (ko-gyil). "Gurukul" describes the reverent environment in a traditional Indian music school.
Beches Brew in its entirety, is a wonderfully crafted suite. It is a world of music that ebbs and flows through the soul of Berger, memorably interpreted by his fellow journeymen.
Track Listing
New Gyil; Oskar's Lullabye; Kakraba High Five; Livet; Laila; Dagar Djur; Simon Says; Jag Palperar Platons Grotta; Nada; Sperings Gånglåt (Canary Version); Familjen Bra; Pizza Excess; Gurukul; Apart; Sperings Gånglåt (Live Version); Flabby Dick; Gurlai Kora.
Personnel
Bengt Berger
percussionThomas Gustafsson: soprano and tenor saxophones (right channel); Lindha Kallerdahl: voice; Jonas Knutsson: sopranino, soprano, alto and baritone saxophones; Sigge Krantz: bass (7), background vocals (5); Max Schultz: guitar, banjo, bass, voice; Mats Öberg: keyboards, harmonica, voice; Bengt Berger: drums, percussion.
Album information
Title: Beches Brew | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Country & Eastern
Comments
About Bengt Berger
Instrument: Percussion
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