göran klinghagen: hälsingland - by the lake beside the trees (2019, cd, sweden, country & eastern)
Swedish jazz guitar player and composer Göran Klinghagen has already been mentioned on the United Mutations blog as he contributed to Bengt Berger's impressive "Beches Brew Big" album.
On his latest album, Göran has used several Swedish folk songs as a basis for his compositions, arranged for his jazz sextet. The result is very enjoyable. There is a certain calmness, a certain peace surrounding all the tracks. I guess the subtitle, "By The Lake Beside The Trees" fits the package perfectly.
Featuring Göran Klinghagen (guitar), Fola Dada (vocals), Markus Harm (sax, flute), Joo Kraus (trumpet, electronics), Veit Hübner (bass), and Torsten Krill (drums and percussion).
stefan bellnäs: podunk (2018, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce40)
Stefan Bellnäs is the bass player for Bengt Berger's Beches Brew ensemble. "Podunk" is the first album that he recorded in his own name.
Not only does Stefan play the bass, he's also an accomplished slide guitar and keyboard player. "Podunk" showcases all these different parts. In that aspect, "Podunk" gives perfect samples of what Stefan Bellnäs is all about.
On the other hand, however, I do miss a bit of consistency. There's a couple of superb jazz tunes on this album ("Big Chief', 'Searching For The Lost Spice Rack', 'Spokes',...). There's also some beautiful blues songs and amazing slide guitar to be found on this album. Hopping between those tracks and genres isn't easy, but if you can program your CD player, you're in for a treat.
The Swedish Country and Eastern record label is known for releasing excellent jazz albums as well as adventurous albums with Indian music.
One of the more recent releases is a recording of a private concert that Z.H. Dagar and Pandit Taranath did at painter Axel Törneman's atelier in Stockholm in 1969. A concert that had been arranged by Bengt Berger.
Z.H. Dagar plays the rudra veena and Pandit Taranath plays pakhawaj.
Bengt Berger adds: In 1969, on their way back to India from their first time in US, guruji Pandit Taranath Rama Rao and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar stopped by me in Stockholm for a few concerts, a radio show and a TV appearance. They recorded one been piece and one short pakhawaj solo (its a rare thing to see Ustad put tal). I have not found the rudra veena piece, BUT I HAVE FOUND THE PAKHAWAJ SOLO, filmed in very high quality and here it is! Jai Guru!
For their latest album, drummer Bengt Berger, saxophonist Jonas Knutsson and double bass player Christian Spering invited jazz guitarist Max Schultz.
The Berger / Knutsson / Spering trio was founded around 1996. They have been performing and recording as a trio for years.
Max Schultz also hails from Sweden. He has performed and recorded all over the world. Only recently, he released "Dedications", an album that he made with fellow guitar player Erik Söderlind. It included a fine version of Frank Zappa's 'Blessed Relief'.
Earlier this year, Bengt Berger, Jonas Knutsson and Christian Spering asked Max Schultz to join them with the goal of recording an album. The four of them got together for two days in May 2015. The result is beautiful and it's called "Blue Blue".
These guys sound like they have been playing together for years. And it's not just the playing. Each musician contributed compositions as well, resulting in a nice reflection of the participants.
"Blue Blue" presents a fine, mellow mixture of blues and jazz. There's some great music on 'Blue Blue', but my favourite tune is the opening track, 'Frankly'. Written by Max Schultz and an obvious tribute to the music of Frank Zappa.
To get you in the mood, here's a little clip from Swedish fusion band MYNTA.
From the 1985 album, "Short Conversation",
featuring
Christian Paulin - electric bass
Max Schultz - guitars
Jonas Knutsson - saxophones
Johan Söderquist - keyboards
Bo Skuba - piano
Michael Hedenquist - drums, percussion
Bengt Berger - tabla
"Orsa By Night" is a brand-new release by Thomas Tidholm and Jonas Knutsson.
As far as I know (and I had to look it up), Orsa is a small town somewhere in the middle of Sweden.
Apparently, author / musician Thomas Tidholm and composer / musician Jonas Knutsson met at a musical course that was given by Jonas. The course was about the playing of folk tunes on wind instruments. Thomas was one of the participants.
"Orsa By Night" presents music by Jonas Knutsson as well as arrangements of traditional music from Orsa. Texts are by Thomas Tidholm.
The both of them (with Jonas Knutsson on saxophones, percussion and keyboards, and with Thomas Tidholm on clarinet and voice) take you on a mesmerizing musical journey.
I first came across Sir Thomas Jäderlund 's name on Bengt Berger's "Biches Brew Big" album. A superb recording (that also features Mats Öberg).
On "Plays Jazz", Thomas Jäderlund performs the music of Ornette Coleman and Charles Mingus. Not the easiest of tasks, but the Thomas Jäderlund Amazing Trio (with Peter Janson on double bass and Göran Kroon on drums) does a great job.
The album cover of this brand-new release does not just look spectacular, there's an actual idea behind it.
From the Country & Eastern website: There is love, there is joy, there is compassion in the music of Sir Thomas Jäderlund and his truly amazing trio. In their jazz music you will find anger, bravery and fear as well. Eight modern classics by Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman also leave space for disgust, surprise and peace of mind. You will be lucky to find all the nine emotions (Navarasa) known from the ancient Indian art world in this album by Sir Thomas Jäderlund and his Amazing Trio.
