Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Andreas Ulvo + Slagr: Softspeaker

3

Andreas Ulvo + Slagr: Softspeaker

By

Sign in to view read count
Andreas Ulvo + Slagr: Softspeaker
The music of Norwegian pianist Andreas Ulvo—a member of the Eple Trio and Karl Seglem's acoustic quartet—commutes naturally between the worlds of modern jazz, contemporary classical music, Norwegian folk music and even pop songs. All these musical universes are melted organically to his collaboration with Norwegian contemporary folk music ensemble Slagr.

The aptly titled Softspeaker describes beautifully this collaborative effort. Ulvo's calm, highly melodic and reserved piano playing has much in common with the warm, trance-like ambiances of the Slagr trio as featured in its Straum, stille (Ozella, 2011). The ensemble's unique interplay creates light, evocative and chamber- like soundscapes, each with profound emotional impact.

All nine compositions, penned by Ulvo, are unique gems. "Midwinter" has a haunting, contemplative and dark mood, reflecting the effect of a typical Norwegian winter. "Star song" has a timeless aroma, owing much to impressionist hardanger fiddler Anne Hytta, cellist Sigrun Eng and Ulvo's captivating, repeated theme. "Catalan winds" sounds even more archaic, with Hytta's introduction to Ulvo's meditative ruminations. Ulvo deepens this hypnotic mood during his solo exploration, "Preludium II"—similar to the exploration "Preludium," from Ulvo's solo album, Light and Loneliness (Atterklang, 2010).

"Old soul" unfolds patiently with another timeless, seamless and meditative melody. The touching, dance-like "Folk" is defined by Ulvo's insistent chords court, embracing Slagr's sensual dance. The softly minimalist "In the darkest hour" has a trance-like quality, while "Subaquatic psalm" possesses an even deeper, sparer sound—still, and light as a feather. Ulvo's solo on the concise closer, "Hanglete," offers another experience of intense tranquility.

A magnificent, haunting set of melodies and moods.

Track Listing

Midwinter; Star song; Catalan winds; Preludium II; Old soul; Folk; In the darkest hour; Subaquatic psalm; Hanglete.

Personnel

Andreas Ulvo: piano, Rhodes, Casio; Anne Hytta: hardanger fiddle; Sigrun Eng: cello; Amund Sjølie Sveen: vibraphone.

Album information

Title: Softspeaker | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Atterklang

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.