Wako: Wako
The strings enter immediately on the opener, "For Those We Love," initially accompanied only by Mulelid's piano. The sound clearly signals that the album will not be business as usual. Before long the whole band has joined into the relentless, driving ostinato pattern. But there are carefully modulated dynamics as well, as the piece ends with quiet music like the beginning. "Wako Amok" pares the ensemble back to the core band, and finds the piano and Olsen's saxophone in almost free territory during the solos, accompanied by an equally liberated rhythm section. Not quite amok, but very high energy.
It is surprising to see a performer credited with the Roland RE-201 Space Echo, but Kyrre Laastad}s contributions on "Stjerneskipet" completely justifies it. Other highlights include Espen Reinertsen's saxophone, modular synthesizer and effects on the atmospheric "Le tapis volant;" high-profile guest Arve Henriksen's trumpet, synthesizer and sampling on the driving "Trakterer du musikk?" (one of Mulelid's most striking contributions); and Adrian Laseth Waad's violin, Rob Waring's vibraphone and Janas Kulhammar's Varitone saxophone on "Grown-up Life."
Mulelid's "Everything Comes To an End" finishes the album's official content with an Ornette Coleman-like theme. The Bonus material comprises three tracks, concluding with a final string trio appearance on Olsen's bop theme "Savage Detective." It is a feature for Olsen as a soloist, as well as an energetic finale to the program. A definitive statement for Wako as a band, and for Norwegian jazz.
Track Listing
For Those We Love; Wako Amok; Stjerneskipet; Brain Drain; Hele verden er en boble; Le tapis volant; Trakterer du musikk?; Dagdrømmeren; Grown-up Life; Everything Comes To an End; When Staring Into Light, We Think; Skumringsbeltet; Savage Detective.
Personnel
Martin Myhre Olsen: saxophone, alto; Kjetil Mulelid: piano; Bárður Reinert Poulsen: bass, acoustic; Simon Olderskog Albertsen: drums; Rob Waring: vibraphone; Wako: band / orchestra.
Additional Instrumentation
Kaja Constanze Rogers, violin (1, 8, 13); Isa Caroline Holmesland, viola (1, 8, 13); Kaja Pettersen. cello (1, 8, 13); Kyrre Laastad: Roland RE-201 (3); Rob Waring: vibraphone (4, 9, 12); Espen Reinertsen: saxophone, modular synthesizer, effects (6); Arve Henriksen: trumpet, synthesizer, sampling (7); Janas Kulhammar: Varitone saxophone (9); Adrian Laseth Waade: violin (9, 13); Sissel Vera Pattersen: saxophone, voice (10).
Album information
Title: Wako | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Ora Fonogram
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About Martin Myhre Olsen
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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