Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Anders Jormin: Xieyi

143

Anders Jormin: Xieyi

By

Sign in to view read count
Anders Jormin: Xieyi
Expressing his innermost thoughts through a brass choir for six selections and working a cappella for the other eleven, bassist Anders Jormin interprets classical music and introspective originals with flair on Xieyi. The album's title is a Chinese term that implies freedom of expression. Jormin takes this opportunity to express from the heart what he feels and carries with him. They're songs from folklore, songs from known composers, and songs from Jormin's expressive pen.

As he interprets traditional hymns alone with the bowed bass, Jormin brings a lyrical quality to his work that remains both sensual and universal. When applying pizzicato techniques to explore, he grabs each opportunity gracefully and handles each with delicate care. Jormin prefers a rubato setting where he has the freedom to express delicate ideas clearly without concern for meter. His bass resonates with a vocal-like spirit that issues warmly with subtle passion.

Each solo bass piece moves deliberately with heartfelt expression. Jormin climbs and cascades with fluid motion. The folkloric nature of his compositions cannot be overlooked. Much of his work is filled with graceful themes that sing like a lullaby or a hymn. Even free pieces, such as Ornette Coleman's "War Orphans," send the bassist on a journey that allows him to explore the music of his homeland and the folk music that surrounds all of us. The result is a lovely solo performance that communicates in the universal language with lovely lyrical refrains assembled naturally.

Track Listing

Choral; Giv mig ej Glans; I Denna Ijuva Sommartid; Gracias a la Vida; Idas Sommervisa; Xieyi; Decimas; Och Kanske

Personnel

Anders Jormin: double-bass; Brass Quartet (1,6,9,12,15,17): Robin Rydqvist: trumpet, flugelhorn; Krister Petersson: French horn; Lars-G

Album information

Title: Xieyi | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: ECM Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts


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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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