Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Orchestra: Noxx

118

The Orchestra: Noxx

By

Sign in to view read count
The Orchestra: Noxx
For those who’d rather chew and digest their helpings of big–band Jazz slowly and carefully instead of gulping down a series of low–calorie riffs and shout choruses, here’s a lavish spread ably prepared by The Orchestra from beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark. The seven compositions, all by members of the band or director / tenor saxophonist Henrik Frisk, have enough meat on them to give anyone’s molars, incisors and bicuspids a vigorous workout. None is especially hard to swallow, nor are they lacking in flavor (although those who are partial to a diet of Basie or Herman may consider them somewhat bland). The music is in the Bob Graettinger / Gunther Schuller / Gil Evans / Maria Schneider lineage; in other words, probing, densely orchestrated and classically influenced, yet always within the established Jazz framework. While it does swing, that isn’t the cardinal purpose; it seeks instead to incite the intellect as much as the emotions. Tempos are for the most part subdued, and solos unfold neatly from within the orchestral fabric. The most adventurous selections are the two (“Secession,” “Indra”) by Frisk, while the most conventional are saxophonist Lars Møller’s duo, “Colors” and the dark–hued opener, “Blues and the Augmented Truth,” which reminds one ever so faintly of the theme from the Perry Mason television series. The remaining numbers, by trumpeter Jesper Riis (“First Smiles,” “Noxx”) and saxophonist Claus Waidtlow (“Miss K”), lie somewhere between those boundaries. Track lengths range from 12:26 (“Noxx”) to 8:03 (“Miss K”), and soloists are given extensive acreage in which to graze. They include tenor Frisk and trumpeter Riis (“Blues”), alto Peter Fuglsang and pianist Henrik Gunde (“First Smiles”), trombonist Ture Larsen (“Secession”), Gunde and alto Waidtlow (“Miss K”), Waidtlow again, on soprano, and bassist Nils Davidsen (“Noxx”), guitarist Per Gade and soprano Christina Nielsen (“Colors”), Jakob Riis (trombone), Niels Kristensen (bass clarinet), Niels Gerhardt (tuba) and tenor saxophonist Møller (“Indra”). They’re more than respectable, as is The Orchestra itself. There are no amateurs within these precincts. Noxx won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the more open–minded listener should unearth much that is worthwhile.

Track listing: Blues and the Augmented Truth; First Smiles; Secession; Miss K; Noxx; Colors; Indra (69:25).

Personnel

Henrik Frisk, conductor, artistic director, tenor sax; Peter Fuglsang, alto, soprano sax, alto, Bb clarinet; Claus Waidtlow, alto, soprano sax, clarinet; Lars M

Album information

Title: Noxx | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Dacapo Records

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.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

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