Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Paal Nilssen-Love/H: Schlinger

Paal Nilssen-Love/H: Schlinger

By Mark Corroto
January 3, 2005
View read count

Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love is certainly a star on the rise. On the US and European scenes, he is much in demand. You can find him in bands fronted by Ken Vandermark (FME, School Days, and in a duo), Mats Gustafsson (The Thing and also a duo), Raoul Björkenheim's Scorch Trio, Frode Gjerstad's trio, Håvard Wiik's Trio, and with the band Atomic. He made Schlinger, his fourth duo recording, with fellow Norwegian and band mate Håkon Kornstad. This intense 34-minute outing was recorded in New York and Norway.

The disc opens with Nilssen-Love's processional solo. From the muted fingertips on skins, he calls forth Kornstad's horn with his gentle tapping, tapping. Not just a drum solo; Paal beckons the skittish horn entrance. He continues to direct the action throughout. At times he nudges the saxophonist forward, restraining him, and running aside his melodies. As he has proven with Vandermark or Gustafsson, his presence commands attention.

For his part, Kornstad plays like the Norwegian equivalent of Albert Ayler. That is, an Ayler without the marches and anthems. Full of reed pops and clucks, Kornstad displays a fiery nature which can turn to the gentlest poetry in response to any stimuli. The Parker-like (that's Evan Parker) "One More Once," with its upper register acrobatics, follows. Because Kornstad is unfamiliar to US listeners, we can think of Evan Parker's music here.

The sixteen-minute closer "Arched Shape" plows through an exhausting workout of sound. The challenge between drummer and horn man makes for a crowd-pleasing track. Muscles are flexed and the audience roars; even the quieter moments scream. Impressive stuff.

Track Listing

Playmachine; One More Once; Arched Shape.

Personnel

Paal Nilssen-Love

drums

Album information

Title: Schlinger | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Smalltown Supersound

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Jim Seeley/Arturo O'Farrill Quin...
< Previous

The Best Of Bill Evans
Next >

Paal Nilssen-Love Concerts

Nov 23 Sun

Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-love

Pardon, To Tu
Warsaw, Poland

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.