Swedish born jazz bassist/educator Bruno Raberg displays a fine compositional pen on his 1998 release titled Orbis. With sympathetic support from legendary drummer Bob Moses, pianist Tim Ray, and saxophonist Ole Mathisen, the bassist fuses Scandinavian folk with 90’s style modern jazz-funk rhythms and melodically tinged themes on the albums opener, “Runes”. Throughout, Bob Moses is a master at pushing and prodding the soloists without becoming obtrusive or distracting while Raberg is the traffic cop as he directs the band through a potpourri of curiously interesting motifs and developments. The bassist’s sonorous, earthen tone and harmonically rich lines provide a firm yet flexible framework for the lead soloists.

Overall, the band exhibits an airy and at times loose demeanor as the musicians intermingle heated dialogue with a sunny or luminous perspective. With Orbis, Bruno Raberg covers a fairly wide spectrum as his music and approach seems consistent with some of the forward thinking jazz musicians or bands of the late 90’s. Here, the artist effectively bridges the gap between post modernism and good solid entertainment.

* * * ½ (out of * * * * *)

Personnel:

Bruno Raberg; Acoustic Bass: Tim Ray; Piano: Ole Mathisen; Soprano & Tenor Saxophones: Bob Moses; Drums

Website: www.orbismusic.com

Style: Mainstream/Bop/Hard Bop/Cool
Published: August 01, 2000

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