William Soovik Grand Finale: Once More, Dear Friends!

Once More, Dear Friends! is the William Soovik Grand Finale ensemble's fourth album, offering a blend of free jazz, melancholy and authenticity. Swedish drummer Soovik's compositions evoke a sense of openness, inviting listeners into a world where musical boundaries blur. The band's sound feels genuine and timeless, full of character like a well-worn cast iron pan or weathered wooden planks. Expect a journey that combines raw emotion with intricate improvisations, all anchored by Soovik's drumming prowess.

Soovik's band imparts a signature style via triumphant and penetrating horn charts that sport a touch of bravado during a good portion of the album. "Bad" travels along this path with bold sax statements and guitarist Joel Fabiansson's nimble picking and capacious developments as the drummer pushes and prods his colleagues with delicately complex patterns. Here, either saxophonist Malin Wättring or Signe Lykkebo Dahlgreen renders an extended solo with seething lines and an off-centered pulse.

"Jarnet" features soft and harmonious sax choruses atop Soovik's backbeats and the guitarist's gentle underpinnings, morphing into an upbeat ballad, followed by an intense bridge section and free-form dialogues. The piece feels like a lively conversation, where every participant has something intriguing to contribute. "Bluesen" is framed on slippery funk grooves and the frontline's expressive and knotty unison lines. The ensemble generates odd-metered outbreaks amid the leader's peppery support within these angular and feisty improv segments along with some crash-and-burn moments.

The musicians execute a brief ballad on "Golden Meadow Is Now," a piece that insinuates loneliness and introspection as they raise the pitch towards the closeout. It is the kind of track that invites contemplation and reflection.

Once More, Dear Friends! is an exploration of music that resonates beyond the clean and refined. Soovik and his ensemble have delivered a powerful and transformative musical experience, proving that the grand finale is just the beginning of something extraordinary. Each track offers a unique and engaging listening experience. This album is not just a testament to William Soovik's talent as a composer and bandleader; it is a statement that great music often lies in the unpredictable and raw, or as Soovik mentions in the marketing material, "rustic." The leader invites us to embrace the beautiful imperfections and raw emotions that make this album a compelling work of art.