Ulf Wakenius: Vagabond (2012)

Ian Patterson

Senior Contributor since 2006

Ian is dedicated to the promotion of jazz and all creative music all over the world, and to catching just a little piece of it for himself.

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Published: May 7, 2012

Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius is perhaps best known for his ten year stint in pianist Oscar Peterson Oscar Peterson
1925 - 2007
piano 's trio, following in the footsteps of guitarists Barney Kessel Barney Kessel
1923 - 2004
guitar, electric , Herb Ellis Herb Ellis
1921 - 2010
guitar and Joe Pass Joe Pass
1929 - 1994
guitar . Wakenius clocked up enough road miles with Peterson to have traveled to the moon and back, and he also toured extensively and recorded with bassists Ray Brown Ray Brown
1926 - 2002
bass, acoustic and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen
1946 - 2005
bass . These heavyweight associations have tended to overshadow his own projects as leader, which date back more than two decades to his group with drummer Jack DeJohnette Jack DeJohnette
b.1942
drums , saxophonist Bill Evans (saxophone) Bill Evans (saxophone)
b.1958
saxophone , trumpeter Randy Brecker Randy Brecker
b.1945
trumpet , pianist Niels Lan Doky Niels Lan Doky
b.1963 and bassist Lars Danielsson Lars Danielsson
b.1958
bass .

Since signing to ACT Music in the mid-2000s, Wakenius has paid singular tribute to two of the most influential pianists of the last forty years, Keith Jarrett Keith Jarrett
b.1945
piano on Notes from the Heart (ACT Music, 2005) and the late, sorely lamented Esbjorn Svensson Esbjorn Svensson
1964 - 2008
piano on Love is Real (ACT Music, 2008). In the process, Wakenius has demonstrated his proclivity for interpreting a tune with originality and respect. The acoustic Vagabond is a halfway house between original material and covers, and explores a wide range of stylistic and emotional terrain. English guitarist John McLaughlin John McLaughlin
b.1942
guitar once wrote that Wakenius sounded as if he was born with a guitar in his hands, and in truth he has never sounded better.

Wakenius' virtuosity is a given, though his lightening fast runs which pepper the set could slacken the jaws of the most jaded guitar aficionados. However, even his most fluid lines, on pianist Lyle Mays Lyle Mays
b.1953
keyboard 's lovely "Chorinho" or Attila Zoller Attila Zoller
1927 - 1998
guitar 's infectious "Birds and Bees, (a duet with son Eric), have tremendous melodic narrative. Wakenius demonstrates subtlety and lyricism on a beautiful interpretation of Jarrett's "Encore" and on the self-penned "Song for Japan," where damped strings create the sound of a Japanese lute, on this moving ode.

Wakenius conjures the troubled Middle East on the dramatic "Breakfast in Baghdad." Danielsson's bass brings powerful counterpoint to the guitarist's darting lines, while accordionist Vincent Peirani reprises the role singer Youn Sun Nah Youn Sun Nah

vocal performed with Wakenius on her own Same Girl (ACT, 2010). Wakenius and Nah have formed a striking partnership in recent years and she lends her seductive vocals to a beautifully simple but affecting take on The Police classic "Message in a Bottle," with guitarist Nguyen Le Nguyen Le
b.1959
guitar adding wavy, singing lines. Peirani and Danielsson make significant contributions throughout; the accordionist weaves delightful French, Argentinean and Arab textures—his playing on the dramatic title track is exceptional— while the bassist lends two striking compositions in the form of the blues-tinged nostalgia of "Psalmen" and the gentle, Iberian-flavored "Praying."

Wakenius pays personal tribute to saxophonist Jim Pepper Jim Pepper
1941 - 1992
sax, tenor on "Witchi-Tai-To," complete with memorable Native American chants. Wakenius' star shines brightly on these 11 cuts, though it is the space he allows for all the voices on Vagabond which ultimately makes it such a resounding success. Uniformly strong compositions and wonderful, empathetic playing from all mark this recording out as one of the guitarist's finest efforts. One more time to the moon and back, please.

Track Listing: Vagabond; Message in a Bottle; Bretagne; Psalmen; Breakfast in Baghdad; Song for Japan; Birds and Bees; Praying; Chorinho; Witchi-Tai-To; Encore.

Personnel: Ulf Wakenius: acoustic guitars, oud, chant; Vincent Peirani: accordion, accordina, voice; Lars Danielsson: bass, cello; Eric Wakenius: acoustic steel string guitar; Michael Dahlvid: darbuka, cajon; Youn Sun Nah: vocals (2); Nguyen Le: electric guitar (2).

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

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Date	Venue	Tickets
Jun27	Rockwood Music Hall - Stage 2 New York, NY	buy
Jun28	Lutheran Church of the Reformation Rochester, NY
Jun28	Lutheran Church of the Reformation Rochester, NY