Jazz Articles
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Hakon Skogstad: 8 Concepts of Tango
by Pierre Giroux
Pianist Håkon Skogstad's 8 Concepts of Tango is a bold and ambitious exploration of nuevo tango, drawing motivation from Astor Piazzolla. Skogstad sets out to acknowledge Piazzolla's groundbreaking work, expand the boundaries of the genre, and carve out his own musical identity. The eight original compositions were crafted to showcase the nuances and complexities of the form and capitalize on the musical talents of experienced musicians such as Andreas Rokseth and Asbjørg Ryeng on bandonéon, Sveinung Lillebjerka and Anders Larsen ...
Continue ReadingHakon Skogstad: 8 Concepts of Tango
by Jack Bowers
Any time an instrumental group includes a bandoneon in the lineup, that provides a pretty good idea as to where its sentiments lie. Norwegian-born pianist Hakon Skogstad includes not one but two bandoneons in his octet, and as if that were not enough in the way of a definitive clue, has named his latest album 8 Concepts of Tango. Skogstad, to state the obvious, is wedded to the tango, a conclusion to which his half-dozen earlier albums ...
Continue ReadingWako: Urolige Sinn
by Mark Sullivan
Wako is a Norwegian jazz collective with a truly collective sound. Saxophonist Martin Myhre Olsen--heard as a leader on MMO Ensemble's Any Day Now (Øra Fonogram, 2018)--and pianist Kjetil Mulelid--leader of the Kjetil Mulelid Trio's Not Nearly Enough To Buy A House (Rune Grammofon, 2017)--each contribute three compositions. But the group identity is equally present on the jointly created tracks that dominate this program, their third album. Opener “Jernvilje" is a brief, atmospheric rubato exercise by the whole ...
Continue ReadingMMO-Ensemble: Any Day Now
by Mark Sullivan
MMO-Ensemble is the realization of Norwegian saxophonist/composer Martin Myhre Olsen's vision of a new 21st Century large improvising ensemble. The twelve-piece group (the largest version of the ensemble to date) includes horns, strings, a vocalist, and of course a rhythm section. The Ensemble's third project, Any Day Now is based upon texts by James Baldwin, Emily Dickinson and e.e. Cummings--which provide some of the structure of the music, as well as forming part of the collage (both spoken and sung). ...
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