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Bugge Wesseltoft: Am Are
by John Eyles
Jens Christian Bugge Wesseltoft was born in Porsgrunn, Norway, in February 1964 , the son of Erik, a guitarist. Thankfully, he was soon just known as Bugge and people learned that his first name is pronounced “Boogie" not “Bug" or “Bugga... “ Having flirted with a punk band that he did not enjoy much, Wesseltoft moved towards jazz, in particular to the style identified as “future jazz" or nu jazz.In 1995, Wesseltoft formed his own five-member band, called ...
Continue ReadingSimin Tander: The Wind
by Ian Patterson
A journey of progression and discovery might best describe singer Simin Tander's musical evolution. From the outset, with her debut album Wagma (Neuklang Records, 2011), the German-Afghan singer was already stretching the boundaries of jazz, displaying a deeply personal approach to vocal improvisation and forging a sound that remains elusive. With Where Water Travels Home (Jazzhaus Records, 2014), Tander began to explore her Afghan roots, singing Afghan poems in her father's native Pashto--an exploration she continued on Unfading (Jazzhaus Records, ...
Continue ReadingIn the Country, Solveig Slettahjell & Knut Reiersrud: Remembrance
by John Eyles
Formed in Oslo, Norway, in 2003, the piano trio In the Country has featured its founding members, pianist Morten Qvenild, bassist Roger Arntzen and drummer Pål Hausken, ever since. In its early years, the trio released a steady stream of releases on Rune Grammofon--This Was the Pace of my Heartbeat (2005), Losing Stones, Collecting Bones (2006), Whiteout (2009), and Sounds and Sights (2011)--accompanied by a steady stream of praise. The years after 2011 saw In the Country change ...
Continue ReadingRymden + KORK: Rymden + KORK
by Gareth Thompson
The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (aka KORK) performs each year at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. By contrast, it has also twice provided backing to the Eurovision Song Contest in Norway. Intriguing then to find them linking up with Bugge Wesseltoft, leader of Rymden and a pianist-composer whose work is both learned and accessible. Both parties create music that hammers at the spine, whilst also tingling it. The name of Wesseltoft's trio means “outer space" or “universe," whereas KORK is an ...
Continue ReadingMaridalen: Bortenfor
by Gareth Thompson
Maridalen's eponymous 2021 debut for Jazzland Recordings was quite the breakout success. Earning strong coverage across the British music press, it proved that sometimes the media gods are with you. A host of other fine Norwegian albums made less impact back then, but Maridalen look determined to seize the moment. And, with their follow-up record Bortenfor, they have the ultra-cool audacity to go one better this time. The title translates as 'beyond, or going past' in terms of ...
Continue ReadingJohan Lindvall Trio: This Is Not About You
by Chris May
If you ask a jazz fan to name the greatest piano trio albums ever made, the probability is that their top twenty choices will include Erroll Garner's Concert By The Sea (Columbia, 1955), Ahmad Jamal's But Not For Me (Argo, 1958), Bill Evans' Sunday At The Village Vanguard (Riverside, 1961), Keith Jarrett's Standards Vol. 2 (ECM, 1985) and Brad Mehldau's The Art Of The Trio Vol. 1 (Nonesuch, 1997). Sweden's Esbjörn Svensson's From Gagarin's Point Of View (Superstudio Gul, 1999) ...
Continue ReadingBugge Wesseltoft: Be Am
by Gareth Thompson
In a 2008 interview, Bugge Wesseltoft spoke of his despair at seeing civilians suffer throughout history, unable to protect their families and children from wars. He also noted that watching such events unfold from the safety of his Norwegian homeland was painful. Wesseltoft had recently released his superb album IM (Jazzland Recordings, 2007) which found him on reflective form at the piano. Come the pandemic of 2020, Wesseltoft was caught in a similar climate of fear to those ...
Continue ReadingMaridalen: Maridalen
by Gareth Thompson
The use of sacred spaces has long been a feature of jazz recordings. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd made their classic Jazz Samba (Verve, 1962) album at All Souls Church, Washington DC, whilst a converted Greek Orthodox site played home to Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue (Columbia, 1959). Among similar stories, the Norwegian act Moskus recorded at Risør Church, a cruciform wooden hall built in 1647. Now comes another Nordic band, who created their eponymous debut in the Maridalen church, ...
Continue ReadingRymden: Space Sailors
by Gareth Thompson
Outer space and cosmic jazz have long been a match made beyond heaven. The latest act throwing their hat into Saturn's rings is the excellent Norwegian band Rymden, featuring keyboardist Bugge Wesseltoft. The trio has clearly boned up on Sun Ra and Lonnie Liston Smith, but rockier influences are present too from the likes of Hawkwind, The Doors, Soft Machine, even Throbbing Gristle, with Marc Moulin's acid jazztronics in there as well. Closer to home, you can hear ...
Continue ReadingViktor Skokic Sextett: Basement Music
by Mark Corroto
Basement Music, the title of bassist Viktor Skokic's premiere as a band leader, refers not to the social isolation of the 2020 global pandemic, but to the sites of his compositional efforts. Written in his basement, and recorded prior to the lockdown, the music is actually the converse of social distancing—'converse' as in conversation. His 'Sextett' navigates some precarious and complicated directions, such as the album's opener “Tre." Constructed as a puzzle with odd-shaped pieces, the music favors sharp turns, ...
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