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Vassilis Tsabropoulos / Anja Lechner: Melos
by John Kelman
Exploring similar territory as the sublimely beautiful Chants, Hymns and Dances (ECM, 2004), pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos and cellist Anja Lechner switch the emphasis on Melos. Chants focused largely on the writing of rebel philosopher Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff (1866-1949)--for whom musical composition was more a means to an end, encouraging students to strive for a higher state ...
Bobo Stenson Trio: Cantando
by John Kelman
While Bobo Stenson's last record, Goodbye (ECM, 2005), was a fine addition to the Swedish pianist's small but significant discography, it was also something of a transitional record. Drummer Jon Christensen--an essential member of Stenson's trio for decades, appearing on all four of the pianist's previous releases as a leader on ECM from Underwear (1971) through ...
Helge Lien Trio: Hello Troll
by John Kelman
It's nearly impossible to keep up with the Norwegian jazz scene. Considering the country's population is about one-quarter the size of New York City's Greater Metropolitan Area, the vibrancy, diversity and sheer amount of music coming out of this small country is astounding. Pianist Helge Lien and his trio may be unknown to most ...
Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble: Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians
by John Kelman
When Steve Reich released Music for 18 Musicians (ECM, 1978), it was a consolidation and major leap forward in the pulse-based music that the minimalist progenitor had been exploring on earlier compositions including “Four Organs" (1969), a piece that relied on nothing more than a six-note chord, yet was a near flat-out sonic assault. 18 Musicians ...
Tony Levin: Stick Man
by John Kelman
While he's often (and understandably) considered the creative force behind perennial art rockers King Crimson, cofounder/guitarist Robert Fripp is, in fact, a far more democratic leader than he's given credit. Bassist/Stick man Tony Levin--one of the fundamentals behind the 1980-'84 and 1994-'97 incarnations of Crim, recently returning to the fold after a hiatus during the group's ...
Randy Newman: Harps and Angels
by John Kelman
It's been nine years since Bad Love (Dreamworks SKG, 1999), Randy Newman's last album of original material. In the interim the singer/songwriter moved to Nonesuch for Songbook Vol. 1 (2003), where he revisited some of his favorite songs. As good as it was, it's nice to know that, with Harps and Angels, his pen is as ...
Motif: Apo Calypso
by John Kelman
When you have a winning combination, it's best not to mess with it. When guitarist Pat Metheny hooked up with Brad Mehldau, the pianist's trio was already such a strong, flexible unit that Metheny grabbed it in its entirety for his two-CD project. While the order of events may not be quite the same, Atomic pianist ...
Oddjob: Sumo
by John Kelman
There's something a little otherworldly about Swedish jazz-rockers Oddjob. While there's an unmistakably retro feel to Sumo, its third release and first to receive widespread distribution, there's a strange, futuristic skew to its groove-happy roots in '60s and '70 soul jazz that keeps the music slightly off-kilter. The members of Oddjob have ...
The Nuttree Quartet (John Abercrombie / Jerry Bergonzi / Adam Nussbaum / Gary Versace): Standards
by John Kelman
With the plethora of discs released every year that over-mine the standards repertoire, it's easy to forget that there was a time when an album called Standards would not be considered almost a dirty word. Saxophonist David Liebman's recently unearthed Pendulum Live at the Village Vanguard (Mosaic, 2008) is one such example. Drummer Adam Nussbaum, figurative ...
Olav Torget: Suburban Jive
by John Kelman
Much is written about Norway's incorporation of its folk tradition into jazz, not especially different than what Americans have been doing within their own borders. The highly influential Jon Balke has infused his own recondite music with Africo-centric rhythms on albums like Statements (ECM, 2006), while saxophonist Trygve Seim has recently spent a lot of time ...
