Physical Albums
“It Takes All Kinds To Make A World” (11th Nov, April Records) pairs critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer Frederik Lundin with the forward-thinking Odense Jazz Orchestra in an original set of intricately composed music which bridges the gap between avant-garde emotion and heavy groove. But this is much more than simply a collection of newly-commissioned big band jazz. With the growing number of seemingly insurmountable issues and conflicts plaguing our world today, the arts have never felt more important as means of escape, communication, expression, and protest - as this album proves to full effect. “Diversity is a prerequisite for sustainable life on this, our beautiful but suffering, blue green globe”, says saxophonist and composer Frederik Lundin. His striking arrangements explore themes of conflict, frustration and environmental crises, painting musical pictures of the human impact on society and our planet. You need look no further than the title track to see how entwined the music and concept are; it opens with a field recording of the last-known survivor of a species of Hawaiian bird, serving as requiem for all of those of our fellow species the human race has managed to wipe out. Inspired by the fearless nature of 70s music, the 18-piece ensemble uses dense harmonic textures, chaotic free-ness, and a wide range of dynamics to tell the stories encapsulated within each tune. Yet despite the affected horn solos, synth textures and slick drum grooves, this an undeniably modern, transportive listening experience. It Takes All Kinds To Make A World may be dealing with a host of negative subject matters, yet the record ends on a positive note: a call for humility, tolerance, benevolence, open heartedness, curiosity and open-mindedness. Frederik Lundin | Tenor and Soprano Saxophone Torben Sminge | Conductor and artistic director
€14.00
Silhouette was founded in the spring of 2008, when Christina and Fredrik met at a party, where both of them were playing, but not together. Christina heard Fredrik practicing the beautifiul Lars Gullin tune “Silhouette”, she joined in, and the band was born! Silhouette plays music in the spirit of the late great Sweedish barytone player and composer Lars Gullin. Some of Gullins tunes, some of there own compositions, and other songs that fit into that beautiful melancholy Scandinavian mood.
€14.00
Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) was among the most famous and influential of the traditional Southern bluesmen. On the heels of Danish saxophonist-composer Fredrik Lundin’s award-winning 2001 tribute to American blues and roots music, Choose Your Boots, Lundin has devoted an entire album (except for one track) to his own arrangements of the legendary blues icon’s songs. Plays the Music of Leadbelly combines the loose, easy spirit of traditional New Orleans music and other earlier styles with the sophistication of contemporary jazz to create a unique and satisfying program. The songs include the ubiquitous “Goodnight, Irene,” “Take This Hammer,” “De Gray Goose” and four other classics, along with Lundin’s title tune.
The small band, Overdrive, consists of tenor sax, five brass instruments and a varied rhythm section (including two drummers), and features some of Scandinavia’s finest jazz musicians. The leader himself performs in a highly personal and expressive mainstream style. Trumpeter Per Jorgensen and guitarist Krister Jonsson also contribute fresh and inventive, yet stylistically relevant, solos. Two high points among many are the facilely swinging trumpet and guitar choruses on the uptempo “De Gray Goose” and the almost-human voice quality of Lundin’s tenor on the elegiac “Black Girl.”
€14.00
Jazzview review by Maddy Shaw “We three – Marilyn, Fredrik and Kaspar – are not at all alike as composers, or human beings for that matter. Nonetheless each of us longed for a large band - one that could realize our most ambitious compositional ideas.” From this compelling desire comes the 13 piece Maluba Orchestra - led by the percussionist Marilyn Mazur, saxophonist and flutist Fredrik Lundin, and guitarist Kaspar Bai, with musicians drawn from the contemporary Danish jazz scene. This is the polished, eponymous debut album from an orchestra seeking “a unique but recognisable voice of its own.”
To listen to this album is to take an interesting walk along a cool, north beach, discovering beautiful pebbles and rounded glass on the way – each one unique and surprisingly different from the last. Whatever your preferred style, you’ll likely find something captivating here. The album opens with a homage to Paul Bley and Ornette Coleman - the haunting other-worldly theme of Circling Back builds into a pleasingly boisterous collective free improv. Even if free improv isn’t your thing though, don’t stop listening yet. Next up is the soft mourning of Mazur’s Vibe – capturing the quiet intensity of the loss of a good friend. The tune grows through the grief into an uplifting tribute for a wild woman, accented by Makiko Hirabayashi’s sensitive piano and Pernille Bevort’s bass clarinet. Mazur’s minimalist Maluba Birds brings its own idiosyncratic ornithology through flute, contrabass clarinet, waterphone and piano. Presto Hymn’s beefy funk groove struts a big dynamic sound. There is room even for some Moomins here (isn’t there always room for some Moomins?) – via the quirky, engaging percussion and flutes of Bai’s Hattifnat.
The stand out tracks for me, apart from the brilliant Vibe, are Mazur’s ephemeral Windy Wish – a restless, questioning theme, with the absorbing tenor solo from Lundin a swirling vortex of leaves in empty streets. The spacious, cinematic feel of Lundin’s Night Travel evokes a car journey seen through childlike eyes. It speaks of unknown dark roads and strange night-time cities - featuring the elegant melodic contours of Maj Berit Guassora’s trumpet and Mia Engsager’s trombone. And, of course, the driving Fanfare (because an orchestra of this kind should have a fanfare) which celebrates the depth of sound of all the layers of the full orchestra. Listen out for the strapping Baritone sax solo from Jesper LØvdal.
And by the way, if you listen on vinyl or CD, you will be treated to a fine example of The Endangered Art of the Liner Notes: amusing, useful, educational, contextual, concise. Well worth a read. Streamers: you don’t know what you’re missing.
€24.00
Just like the off-piste skier, who seeks out the untouched snow of the cross country trails, Offpiste Gurus criss-cross through a variety of musical landscapes along roads less travelled as well as down well lit pistes.
In Offpiste Gurus’ music the singer-songwriters predilection for personal storytelling meets the unique blue toned cool which Scandinavian Jazz is so famous for. The songs are set in tight, delicate arrangements, that cut to the core of each song. Ultimately this is grooving, hand played and primarily acoustic music, played by an unorthodox line-up of voice, saxophone, bass, drums, mens choir and banjo with glimpses of brass, vibraphone og piano. It is sophisticated, it’s rough, it’s full of contrasts, and above all a perfect offset for Værings beautifully unvarnished voice which generously shares stories and observations from the adult life arena. Offpiste Gurus are: Trinelise Væring - Vocal and banjo / Fredrik Lundin - Saxophones, flutes and backing vocals / Thomas Vang - Bass / Jeppe Gram - drums, percussion and backing vocals.
€14.00
In everything that Fredrik Lundin does there's a rare feeling of recognition, there's artistic self-confidence and integrity. There's no mistaking his identity as an artist. He knows what he wants and never makes compromises. That's why it's not at all surprising that Lundin now moves in a new direction. With "Choose Your Boots" he returns to his own roots - jazz music with its feet solidly planted in the swamp of blues and roots music - a pungent and colourful music with a devil-may-care expressiveness.
Fredrik Lundin - Saxophone & Flute, Krister Jonsson - Guitars, Jacob Karlzon - Piano, Mattias Svensson - Bass, Peter Danemo - Drums & perc., Emil de Waal - Drums, Gunnar Halle - Trumpet, Mia Engsager - Trombone, Kenneth Agerholm - Trombone, Ola Nordquist - Bass Trombone & Klaus Löhrer - Bass Trombone & Tuba.
€14.00