Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » MusicMusicMusic: Äventyret

3

MusicMusicMusic: Äventyret

By

View read count
MusicMusicMusic: Äventyret
Although they haven't received much attention stateside, the three musicians in MusicMusicMusic have been fixtures in the Swedish jazz scene for years. They've released eight records of their own (all on their Hoob Records label), but they've also made plenty of appearances on others' releases. Pianist Fabian Kallerdahl recently made some fine contributions to vocalist Lisa Björänge's 2017 release Resting Spirit (also on Hoob); and his brother, Josef Kallerdahl, has been a regular member of vocalist Lina Nyberg's band. The six engaging cuts on Äventyret represent the group's distinctive take on modern jazz, providing ample evidence of the band's ongoing relevance in the global jazz scene.

MusicMusicMusic's sound relies on deceptively simple melodies that evolve in creative ways, helped significantly by the kinetic drumming of Michael Edlund, who brings the crucial energy needed to give the songs their sparkle, especially on the up-tempo tracks. The opener, "Basenji," for example, while at first staying within a relatively staid register undergirded by Fabian Kallerdahl's ostinato figures, is immediately transformed once Edlund kicks the track into overdrive with a funky, off- kilter beat. The resultant energy gives the music its dynamism and spirit of surprise, with a sense of expectation accompanying the twists and turns of the track. The same rhythmic intensity characterizes "Prisoner," where a more complex tune and time signature succeed wonderfully due to the group's ability to stay locked on to Edlund's infectious pulse.

The more subdued pieces don't generate quite the same level of interest, as "SWAT" and "Made in China," the latter employing Nils Berg on alto flute, suffer a bit from the stasis that results once the main musical ideas have run their course. Some listeners may find the ample use of synth parts on these tracks to be somewhat wearying as well. Even so, when the group offers its heartfelt version of Bob Dylan's "You're a Big Girl Now," the trio's ability to find the enduring beauty in the piece is undeniable. It's a terrific finish to a worthwhile and enjoyable release.

Track Listing

Basenji; Prisoner; SWAT; Made in China; Mrs. Music; You’re a Big Girl Now.

Personnel

MusicMusicMusic
band / ensemble / orchestra

Fabian Kallerdahl: piano and synth; Josef Kallerdahl: bass; Michael Edlund: drums and glockenspiel; Nils Berg: alto flute (4).

Album information

Title: Äventyret | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Hoob Records

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




Support All About 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 make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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

Tramonto
John Taylor
Ki
Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii
Duality Pt: 02
Dom Franks' Strayhorn
The Sound of Raspberry
Tatsuya Yoshida / Martín Escalante

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

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

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.