Kristian Harborg Quartet: Harbostatic

While Harborg's themes are quite well written, there's a sameness about most of them, in terms of style and tempo, that can become tedious—and it's a good bet the audience weren't humming any of them on the way home. Tracks 5 and 7 ("Jonas Kullhammar, "Liquored Up ) are exceptions, the former a groovy swinger with bracing solos by Harborg and pianist Ludvig Berghe, the latter a muscular stallion that enfolds Harborg's nimble 1:20 a cappella preamble before carrying the quartet past the finish line. I wish Harborg had seen fit to include at least one standard, but that was his call, not mine.

Even though there's not much here that quickened my pulse, that's a matter of opinion and no reflection on Harborg's obvious talents. When all is said and done, one must concede that the young Swede is a first-rate player, as are his companions, and their musicianship carries the day. As Ebert and Roeper would say, a cautious thumbs up. There's an ample measure of splendid music on offer, and others may find it far more pleasurable than I.

Visit Kristian Harborg on the web.

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