Kjetil Mulelid - Piano (March 19th 2021 Rune Grammofon)

Kjetil Mulelid: Piano (CD/LP/DL)

Still only 29 years old when composing and recording this album, Kjetil Mulelid is one of the brightest talents in Norwegian jazz, and these days that really says something. Kjetil was sceptical when we first suggested a solo piano record back in early 2018, fully aware that solo piano in jazz is considered the ultimate challenge

But the idéa slowly grew on him and when the pandemic exploded and other plans had to be scrapped, he suddenly had the time as well as the means to do it. Thus the bulk of the album was written in a hectic lockdown period and recorded on a steaming hot June day in the legendary Athletic Sound studio on their unique and characteristic Bösendorfer grand piano from 1919. Of the piano Kjetil says the sound is one of a kind, very clear and not typically “perfect” like most new ones. We can only wholeheartedly agree, it sounds great and is also very well recorded and mixed, giving the impression that you sit next to him, and not in a concert hall.

In turn melancholy, joyful and playful, always elegant, the album fully shows Kjetil’s harmonic and melodic mastery and the influence from early introductions to classical masters like Debussy, Chopin and Beethoven. Whether staying with the tune or taking off on improvised flights, there is an ease and assurance in his playing that betrays his young age.

1. Beginning04:38

2. Skjong 04:10

3. Dancers 04:01

4. Point of View 04:09

5. Le Petit 03:10

6. Love Story 03:39

7. For You I'll Do Anything 03:13

8. Sailor's Song 04:15

9. Blooming 02:10

10. Kanskje i Morgen 04:27

11. The Sun 03:35

All compositions by kjetil andré mulelid

Kjetil André Mulelid - piano (bösendorfer grand piano from 1919)

recorded june 19th and september 13th 2020 by dag erik johansen in athletic sound, halden

mixed by kyrre laastad in øra studio, trondheim

mastered by karl klaseie in øra mastering, trondheim

produced and arranged by kjetil mulelid

sleeve by kim hiorthøy

Rune Grammofon

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Rune Grammofon · Kjetil Mulelid - Skjong

Elephant9 - Arrival Of The New Elders (2021 Rune Grammofon)

Elephant9: Arrival Of The New Elders (LP/CD)

After a solid run of five studio albums and 2019´s two double live albums, Psychedelic Backfire I and II, Elephant9 had taken their groovy mix of high energy rock and power jazz as far as they could. In this respect Arrival Of The New Elders comes as a welcome and most timely addition to their recorded output. More varied, mature and reflective, they are as groovy as ever, but more structured and less jam oriented, with the longest tracks clocking in around the seven minute mark.

Having built a solid live reputation even before their brilliant 2008 debut Dodovoodoo, the trio boasts what is probably the strongest rhythm section in Norway, complemented with keyboard magician extraordinaire, the one and only Ståle Storløkken. And boy, does he excel himself on this album, notably with more focus on the Rhodes than before. That said, this is nothing if not another strong group effort from what has been a very tight unit straight from the outset.

Seven brand new compositions from Storløkken and one from Hængsle make way for what we consider to be their finest and most cohesive album to date.

Arrival Of The New Elders was recorded by trusted stalwart Christian Engfelt, with early Dungen producer Mattias Glavå handling the mixing duties.

1. Arrival of the new elders 06:50

2. Rite of accession 07:12

3. Sojourn 03:17

4. Tales of secrets 03:52

5. Throughout the worlds 06:14

6. Chasing the hidden 05:23

7. Chemical boogie 05:12

8. Solar song 05:39

Rune Grammofon

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Rune Grammofon · Elephant9 - Rite Of Accession

Fire! - Defeat (2021 Rune Grammofon)

FIRE!: Defeat (LP/CD)

Not the most optimistic title for pressing times, but the music sees Fire! tracking new paths and reaching new levels of excellence, still honoring their 12 year old vow of presenting a fresh approach to improvised music. Their debut album, You Liked Me Five Minutes Ago, was released in 2009 to wide international acclaim. “The basic strategy of pairing the expressive energy of free jazz with a sturdy sense of groove has yielded something potent and self-contained” (New York Times). Between this and Defeat there´s been five albums, including collaborations with Jim O´Rourke (Unreleased?, 2011) and Oren Ambarchi (In The Mouth A Hand, 2012).

No two Fire! records sound the same, but with Defeat they have taken their biggest leap so far, with Gustafsson giving the flute a prominent place in the sound image, a surprising and most successful move, his both expressive and ornamental approach given ample room to breathe, especially on the two long tracks bookending the album. In places more subdued than on previous efforts, but with the distinctive bass figures and hypnotic mood fully intact. There are some lively stretches with guests Goran Kajfes and Mats Aleklint, bringing to mind their big band offshoot Fire! Orchestra, albeit on a much smaller scale.

1. A Random Belt. Rats You Out. 09:03

2. Each Millimeter Of The Toad, Part 1 04:51

3. Each Millimeter Of The Toad, Part 2 05:38

4. Defeat (Only Further Apart) 06:45

5. Alien (To My Feet) 09:56

Rune Grammofon

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Rune Grammofon · Fire! - Defeat (Only Further Apart)

Arve Henriksen - The Height Of Reeds (RUNE GRAMMOFON 2018)

"The Height Of The Reeds" started as a commissioned work to the city of Hull, Great Britain´s cultural capital 2017. Composed by Arve Henriksen, Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang, the work celebrates the longstanding seafaring relationship between Hull and Scandinavia. It was originally the musical companion to a sound walk that took place in April, May and June 2017. Those who took part could listen to the music on headphones while crossing the Humber Bridge. Initially intended for April only, the arrangement proved so popular it ended up with selling out three months, a total of 15.000 tickets.

Whether it will be repeated in the future remains to be seen, but at least the evocative music can now be experienced on this release. Only minor adjustments have been done to justify the transition from sound walk to album.

Other than Henriksen, Aarset and Bang, the work includes important contributions from Hull sound artist Jez Riley French, providing field recordings from the bridge itself: the river below, the noise of engines, the creaking of steel wires, wheels against asphalt and the song of the reeds in the wind. Opera North´s choir and orchestra provides the necessary musical space for the soloists, and two actors and a child are reading from translated poems by Norwegian poet Nils Christian Moe-Repstad.

This is a beautiful addition to Arve Henriksen´s large and fast growing discography, and sits well with his very popular Jan Bang collaborations "Chiaroscuro" (2004) and "Places Of Worship" (2013).

RUNE GRAMMOFON

Mats Gustafsson Trio: Fire! - The Hands (RUNE GRAMMOFON 2018)

For 20 years Rune Grammofon has made a habit of releasing music that is beyond easy classification, in later years typified by Swedish trio Fire!, consisting of Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin. All three are highly accomplished musicians, but Fire! music is not “difficult” in the sense that jazz and especially free jazz is often perceived. Very much a tight knit unit with three equal players, Fire! has been likened to powerful guitar led trios such as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, but with Berthling´s heavy, doom laden basslines being such a typical identifier, we can´t help but thinking of Black Sabbath´s debut album when it comes to hypnotic impact.

The Hands is the trio´s sixth album and once again displays a totally uncompromising and intriguing mix of (mostly) heavy, dark and intensely burning music whether one decide on calling it jazz or rock. The album closes on a quiet and reflective note with the appropriately titled “I Guard Her To Rest. Declaring Silence”.

And we say it´s easily their best so far.

1 The Hands 4:39

2 When Her Lips Collapsed 4:52

3 Touches Me With The Tips Of Wonder 3:31

4 Washing Your Heart In Filth 4:54

5 Up. And Down 4:44

6 To Shave The Leaves. In Red. In Black 9:10

7 I Guard Her To Rest. Declaring Silence 4:50

Mats Gustafsson: Tenor, baritone and bass saxophones, live electronics

Johan Berthling: Electric and double bass

Andreas Werliin: Drums, percussion and feedback

Krokofant - Krokofant III (RUNE GRAMMOFON 2017)

RUNE GRAMMOFON

Krokofant typify a new and invigorating movement currently sweeping across the Nordic region: hard boiled improvisation and strong instrumental personalities bolted onto rock beats and driving rhythms. Equally powerful on record and on stage, Krokofant pull no punches, sounding off like some unholy three-way marriage of early 70s jazz rock (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Terje Rypdal), the sprawling progressive odysseys of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator, and the fierce heat of John Zorn or Peter Brötzmann’s harsh free jazz ensembles. If their 2014 debut album was a fresh breath of youthful energy, the follow-up showed a trio more confident of their abilities after extended live work. Their third album in just three years follows in this tradition, with Mathisen´s fat syntheziser tones adding a new colour to the soundscape. They still ally a strong discipline with wide, exploratory arcs, Tom’s agile guitar and Jørgen’s snaking sax fighting to break out, just held in check by Axel’s tough, rhythmic tumble. Only 23 years old, the young drummer is something of a sensation, combining pure energy with superior technical skills. This is a trio where you can hear the individuals pushing each other to new hights while keeping the solid group foundation intact.

1. Tommy Synth (8:23)

2. Clazz (6:55)

3. Juice (6:44)

4. Double Dad (7:02)

5. Wrong Turn (10:19)

Tom Hasslan / guitars

Jørgen Mathisen / saxophone, synths

Axel Skalstad / drums

Jon Irabagon / John Hegre / Nils Are Drønen - Axis (RUNE GRAMMOFON 2017)

The debut album from this Norwegian-American trio consists of two long tracks that move between intimate lyricism and hardcore expressionism, shaping one of the strongest free jazz offerings we have heard for quite some time.

Filipino-American Jon Irabagon has topped both the Rising Star Alto Saxophone and the Rising Star Tenor Saxophone categories in Down Beat´s critics polls and been named one of Time Out New York´s 25 New York City Jazz Icons. Among the seemingly endless praise we can read "stalwart technique and a deep understanding of avant-garde vocabulary" (JazzTimes), "a musician of intense concentration who wants nothing more than to indulge a spirit of play, emphatic and unreserved" (New York Times), "some of the most galvanizing jazz of the past few years" (Time Out New York) and "one of the strongest, most flexible, and daring saxophonists at work today" (Peter Margasak).

A founder member of Mostly Other People Do The Killing, he is also an integral member of the Mary Halvorson Quintet, Dave Douglas Quintet and Barry Altschul´s 3Dom Factor and has taken part on a vast number of records. Guitarist John Hegre and drummer Nils Are Drønen have both been central on the fertile music scene in Bergen for many years, Hegre possibly most known for his long partnership with Lasse Marhaug in Jazzkammer and Jazkamer, while Drønen has played in a number of project and groups including The Last Hurrah!!.

They met up with New York resident Irabagon during one of his many visits to Bergen where he has established a deep musical friendship with The Last Hurrah!! founder HP Gundersen.

1. Berlin 17:43

2. Fukuoka 18:56

Drums – Nils Are Drønen

Guitar – John Hegre

Mastered By – Iver Sandøy, John Hegre

Mixed By – Daniel Birkeland

Saxophone – Jon Irabagon

Sleeve – Kim Hiorthøy

RUNE GRAMMOFON

Bushman's Revenge - Jazz, Fritt Etter Hukommelsen (RUNE GRAMMOFON 2016)

They've been called the missing link between Albert Ayler and Black Sabbath and a Marshall amp version of John Coltrane's Interstellar Space. With this, their eighth album, they go all the way back to their humble beginnings some twelve years ago and for the first time do what can loosely be dubbed a "proper" jazz album. Hence the album title which translates  "Jazz, From Memory" in English. The goal, according to guitarist Even Hermansen, is still to explore the link between the Shorter/Coltrane world on one side and electric blues/Hendrix on the other, but without having to turn everything up to eleven.

Sporting four originals and two cover versions - McCoy Tyner's "Contemplation" and Albert Ayler´s "Angels" - this is easily their most confident, spiritual, heartfelt and fully realised album so far. 

"Gamle Plata Til Arne" originates from the first ever jam session they had before starting the band all those years ago and the album closer "Lola Mit Dem Gorgonzola” is an elegant slice of Scandinavian summer melancholy, in a jazz tradition first explored by legendary Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johanson in the mid 60s.

01. Contemplation 06:04

02. 0500 08:13

03. Bo Marius 07:12

04. Gamle Plata Til Arne 08:48

05. Angels 08:12

06. Lola Mit Dem Gorgonzola 03:44

Even Helte Hermansen – guitar

Rune Nergaard – bass

Gard Nilssen – drums