Audun Kleive

Scheen Jazzorkester & Fredrik Ljungkvist: Framat!

by Mark Corroto
June 8, 2025

Scandinavian large ensembles have much to teach their more conservative American counterparts about reinventing the jazz orchestra for the 21st century. Framåt! by Scheen Jazzorkester is a powerful affirmation of this idea. This Norwegian ensemble has consistently pushed the boundaries of large ensemble jazz, and Framåti--their tenth release since forming in 2010--is another compelling addition to their adventurous discography. Preceding this album were two Thomas Johansson-led projects, As We See It (2019) and Frameworks (2014), both released on ...

Album Review

Per Mathisen: Sounds of 3 Edition 3

Read "Sounds of 3 Edition 3" reviewed by Geno Thackara

by Geno Thackara
July 24, 2023

It was just a matter of time until Norwegian bassist Per Mathisen brought this series to its logical conclusion. Where the first Sounds of 3 (Losen, 2016) pounded the floor with hard-rocking grooves, and its followup Sounds of 3 Edition 2 (Losen, 2019) went a bit subtler and jazzier, Edition 3 drops the fusion blueprint entirely. With another new and versatile pair of fellow travelers on board, Mathisen takes a left turn into impressionistic territory and paints some aural pictures ...

Liner Notes

Arve Henriksen: Solidification

by John Kelman
May 26, 2023

Constellations and the Something of Discovery Music as a chosen profession may suggest occupying the minds of its makers far beyond the 9-to-5 hours of your average job, but for some it goes further still. Transcending mere preoccupation, trumpeter Arve Henriksen seems to eat, drink, sleep and dream music, 24/7, 365 days a year. “I was sitting in my car recently, driving from Oslo to Gothenburg," Henriksen relates, “and I just started to sing and sing and sing. And I ...

Extended Analysis

Arve Henriksen: Solidification

by Henning Bolte
March 9, 2013

Arve Henriksen is one of today's most innovative, creative and busiest musicians in improvised music and jazz. He has his very own signature--first as a highly characteristic trumpeter/singer, but on other instruments and vocals, too. Those who only know him from his Cartography (ECM, 2008) or through his numerous sideman appearances, do not really know him--at least, not well enough.Solidification is a wonderful remedy, a worthwhile dig. This limited edition, seven-LP box set contains the music from his ...

222

Album Review

Audun Kleive: Generator X

Read "Generator X" reviewed by Jon Opstad

by Jon Opstad
September 25, 2004

An interesting aspect of the Norwegian nu jazz scene is how much fine acoustic work each of the key players did before moving into electronic, drum-n-bass-influenced territory. As examples, Nils Petter Molvær (whose albums Khmer and Solid Ether are two of the defining statements of the genre) was a member of Masqualero, a group that brought together the free searching musicality of late-'60s Miles Davis with the more lyrical, impressionistic textures associated with the ECM label. Bugge Wesseltoft, another crucial ...