Bruno R: Orbis

Jim Santella

Senior Contributor since 1997

Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.

Recent articles (1,677 total)

Published: August 1, 1999

Swedish bassist Bruno Råberg combines the best of both worlds: the folk music of his homeland with the modern mainstream jazz that he’s studied quite thoroughly since he was a youth. Råberg, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1984 and now teaches at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, gathered ideas from his own roots as he wrote all the music for Orbis, his second album as a leader. Of his compositions, Råberg says, "When looking closer at the folk music of my home country I found some very basic and primal rhythms. These rhythms have their equivalent in African, American and Latin styles. This discovery was a revelation for me. I found a common rhythmic base whereupon to build my music."

Scandanavian folk music permeates and exciting polyrhythms abound. Ole Mathisen, who’s from Norway, presents a powerful grainy tone quality on tenor and soprano to contrast with the leader’s clear, resonant bass tone. While there are ample improvised solos from each artist, the foursome works for the most part as an interwoven unit. Moving back and forth from laid-back to assertive, the music contains variety with a subtle ethnic flavor.

Track Listing: Runes; Forest Star; Heart of Gold; Cape Light; Is This Tomorrow?; Signs of Love; Wings of Hope; Winds Above; Yellow Woods.

Personnel: Ole Mathisen- soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Tim Ray- piano, Fender Rhodes; Bruno R

Record Label: Orbis Music
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream