Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » JazzKamikaze: Travelling at the Speed of Sound

270

JazzKamikaze: Travelling at the Speed of Sound

By

Sign in to view read count
JazzKamikaze: Travelling at the Speed of Sound
If it ain't broke don't fix it. Isn't that what they say? Stagnation is death. Don't they also say that? JazzKamikaze no doubt had those advising it to repeat the formula that worked so successfully on its acclaimed debut, Mission 1 (Stunt Records, 2006). Others probably urged evolution, progress, fresh sounds. The five musicians have opted to plot a flight path right down the middle on Travelling at the Speed of Sound, and they do so in some style.

The music on Travelling at the Speed of Sound broadly follows the pattern of Mission 1—strong compositions, memorable hooks, fierce, imaginative solos from guitarist Daniel Heloy Davidsen and saxophonist Marius Neset, and an incendiary rhythm section. There are also signs of musical growth, and a significant new dimension to the music which will surprise a few.

The opening track, "Gold, Gold, I Want Gold sees tenor man Marius Neset taking a meaty solo somewhat reminiscent of Sonny Rollins. Like the great tenor master, Neset is always searching, never repeats a line and displays a wealth of ideas. Pianist Morten Shantz picks up the baton, his crystalline, lean lines contrasting nicely with Neset's coarser voice. Throughout the album Schantz's playing is largely devoid of obvious jazz influences save, perhaps, for the McCoy Tyner-esque number "Oberst Eger & Oberst Sponz.

For two numbers, the funky "Up to No Good and the bop-ish "Airborne, the quintet is augmented by trumpeter Matt Schulman. Schulman slips effortlessly into the JazzKamikaze groove, his playing confident and adventurous with and without the mute. On the latter tune, double bassist Kristor Brodsgaard and drummer Anton Eger work overtime as the band rotates solos. As on Mission 1, Eger contributes to the songwriting too, with the wonderful composition "Tribute to a Legend.

It is not so much the broadening of its sound with the addition of trumpet that marks the band's evolution, but a significant shift in compositional style which characterizes the Schantz/Davidsen tune "Everest" and the Schantz number "Until the Sun Comes. On both numbers the band eschews solos, basing the songs on melody and delightful chord progressions which build to a climax. On the latter tune, the addition of a string section adds luster and a Philip Glass-type gravitas to an already powerful song. On these two numbers JazzKamikaze bridges the sonic gap between Genesis and Radiohead—majestic, epic songs which embed themselves in your mind. JazzKamikaze gives EST a run for its money.

There is a cameo appearance by rapper Big D on the ninety-second "Ten Indian Commandments, a song which sounds like a classic first set closer. Introducing the band members with some panache, he concludes: "Stand up ladies and gentlemen and put your hands together for the JazzKamikaze —a sentiment which will surely be echoed by a great many.

Track Listing

Gold, Gold, I Want Gold; Up to No Good; Airborne; Everest; Ten Indian Commandments; Oberst Eger & Oberst Sponz; Tribute to a Legend; Speedball; Until the Sun Comes.

Personnel

Morten Schantz: piano; Kristor Brodsgaard: bass; Anton Eger: drums; Marius Neset: tenor saxophone; Daniel Heloy Davidsen: electric guitar; Mat Shulman: trumpet (2,3); Big D: rap (5); Elizabeth Nielsen: violin (9); Hiroko Taguchi: violin (9); Alissa Smith: viola (9); Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf: cello (9).

Album information

Title: Travelling at the Speed of Sound | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Stunt Records/Sundance Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.