Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ibrahim Electric: Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson

128

Ibrahim Electric: Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson

By

Sign in to view read count
Ibrahim Electric: Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson
Sometimes a lack of musical direction can be a good thing, and such an absence can—at times—lead to a journey in discovery. Such is the case with this album, on which trombonist Ray Anderson joins forces with the Danish group Ibrahim Electric—Niclas Knudsen (guitar), Jeppe Tuxen (B3), Stefan Pasborg (drums)—for a live set at Copenhagen Jazzhouse. There were, as the liner notes state, no rehearsals, and the result is this exciting mix of various musical influences.

Opening with "Fela, an original tune by the band, Anderson immediately feels at home, taking the funk-inflected song into a whole new direction. At one point, the trio just stops and lets the trombonist do his thing, which garners considerable applause. On "Pet Pettostan, Tuxen leads the song with his B3 and Anderson takes the lead for about a few minutes, stepping aside to allow for Knudsen to show his chops. Tuxen playfully weaves in the opening bars of The Addams Family theme, closing the song with a bending solo.

"Formula, a standard twelve-bar blues, serves as a showcase for Knudsen, who plays with a groove that sounds like a cross between B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. What begins as a simple solo slowly changes into a more complex mode, and the tempo changes as Tuxen offers his own statement. At the end Anderson comes in, electrifying the song by exchanging riffs with Tuxen and Knudsen and finding a space of his own within the band.

In Anderson's own "Choppers, the trio goes into a more experimental direction. There are broken notes everywhere, and the trio successfully follows Anderson as he delves into what seems to be a bit of uncharted territory. The track sounds a bit out of place on a disc that tends to be more blues/funk-inflected, but somehow they are able to come together.

One of the most enjoyable moments is the up-tempo "The Tuxen Shuffle, in which the musicians go into more of a playful mode. It is Tuxen's song and he takes the lead for most of it (there is no bassist, so he handles the bass notes himself), sharing the spotlight with the guest of honor, who burns the mic with his improvisations. It almost makes you wish that you had been in Copenhagen that night.

Track Listing

Fela; Pet Pettostan; Formula; Choppers; Lux; The Tuxen Shuffle.

Personnel

Ray Anderson: trombone; Niclas Knudsen: guitar; Jeppe Tuxen: Hammond B3 organ; Stefan Pasborg: drums.

Album information

Title: Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Stunt Records/Sundance Music

Comments

Tags


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.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

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.