Jazz Articles

Dag Arnesen: Norwegian Song 2

by John Kelman
March 8, 2009

Norwegian pianist Dag Arnesen continues to mine the rich tradition of Norwegian folk and classical music on Norwegian Song 2, the logical follow-up to the acclaimed Norwegian Song (Resonant Music, 2008). While the approach might seem formulaic, it's really no different than American musicians who mine the Great American Songbook. It's all about taking music that's part of their DNA and reworking it for a more open-ended, improvisational context, and that's just what Arnesen, bassist Terje Gewelt and drummer Pål ...

Dag Arnesen: Norwegian Song

by John Kelman
June 25, 2008

With the upsurge of jazz artists from around the world comes the realization that, with a melting-pot aesthetic defining jazz across the broadest possible spectrum, source material is expanding far beyond the traditional confines of blues, jazz standards and The Great American Songbook. It may be increasingly difficult to define what jazz is, but the litmus test of authenticity can almost always be felt on an instinctive level. Norwegian pianist Dag Arnesen's source may be his culture's traditional songs, but ...

Andy Haas/Don Fiorino: Death Don't Have No Mercy

by Florence Wetzel
September 21, 2005

John Lennon once said that the world is run by insane people for insane purposes. So what's an ordinary citizen to do? One response is to make music, and Death Don't Have No Mercy is a clear response to the current insanity--namely the shameful war America is waging in Iraq. Good, we need more protest music. Best of all, this is an extraordinary recording, a stimulating blend of sounds and cultures fueled by great passion.Part of what makes ...

Terje Gewelt: Small World

by John Kelman
August 5, 2004

Some albums are destined for greatness on first listen. Others take more time to settle in, requiring a greater familiarity before they reveal their best qualities. While Norwegian bassist Terje Gewelt's new album Small World is somewhat underwhelming on first cut, subsequent listens reveal a richer experience. Marrying a looser Nordic rhythmic approach with the percussion-driven music of Brazil, Gewelt creates a hybrid that manages to remain playful without falling into more predictable patterns.The approach is definitely percussion-heavy, ...

Roy Powell Trio: Holus

by Javier AQ Ortiz
October 9, 2003

Quick and to the Point: A rarity: spontaneous Jazz... .

For all the talk of improvisation in jazz, it is not widespread to have musicians draw together at a recording studio and just go with the flow. For all the talk of spontaneous virtuosity in jazz, the percentage of musicians who can gather jointly – and pull it off with fallout of note – is likewise somewhat limited. The Norwegian release Holus, featuring the Roy Powell Trio, is ...