Shing-a-lings
CD Reviews by Mr. Shing-a-Ling
Jaga Jazzist-What We Must (forward thinking-jazz, progressive)
When did Jazz become such a dirty word? What do most young people imagine when they hear this four-letter word? I guess either they remember the hot chick that played the flute in the first row back in junior high jazz ensemble or they might think about the flacid and spiritless "jazz" music that the local "Smooth Jazz" station whips up 24-7. The word itself, like rock, can contain a vast spectrum of styles and approaches in the CD bins at your local music store.
There was a time when Jazz was the underground. It was cutting edge american music. Artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman were pushing things forward with totally fresh sounds. Making it the most stimulating music around...tapping into your booty as well as your cerebral cortex. But over the years, like most good art genres, something got lost. I believe the real zietgiest for Jazz ended in the late 60's. After that, people just freaked out on the overwhelming quality of insanely good music from the 40's, 50's and 60's. It took a while for the general public to catch on to it and by the time they did, it was already done like dinner.
At some point, a few musicans decided that trying to sound just like Rollins or Coltrane was not what they wanted to do in this recently stagnating field of music. In this game there are those who will reproduce and those who will go out on a limb and try something new.
I believe that the Jaga Jazzist (an ensemble out of Norway) are one of these artists. Now, while they are not breaking any mindblowing new territory, the band is very adventurous in its explorations of jazz, rock and electronica. I have always felt that the coolest jazzlike music in the 70's and 80's and perty much still to this day came out of Europe. It seems that the creative baton was handed over to them sometime after Miles did Bitches Brew in 69.(That album itself starring a few Europeans) Jaga Jazzist is quite a large outfit enlisting something like 8 or 9 musicians. In the mix you'll hear all manor of horns, saxes, guitars,vibes, percussion and other stuff.
This is I believe the 3rd major release for them. The last album ,entitiled "The Stix" was a favorite of mine for that year. Such a nice blend of 60's jazz sensiblities and modern production with sweet treatments. Its a risky think fusing Jazz and Dance music. And its a path well-beaten. But whereas most of the artists going down this route rely more on the electronic side...just snipping and sampling bits of jazz heads and runs and then laying those down over programmed beats and what not, Jaga Jazzist are all well trained musicians with that forward-thinking edge using technology artfully to advance this aging art in a new direction. Breathing a little life into a slowly decaying medium.
This new album sees the Jazzist going down a slightly different avenue than "The Stix". That album had a very consistent tone throughout: energetic electro jazz fusion. This time they are all over the map. "For All You Happy People" slowly unravles with close recorded reeds and electric guitar creating a sort of cinematic moodscape. It reminds me of the music from another fine release, reed player, Lars Horntveth's 2003 solo release,"Pooka". Check that one out too!
And then on another track, "Hotel", the progressive rock flag comes out waving high. Spacious guitar riffs, airy synths, treated swirling wind instruments, acoustic drums, and piano all brought together with intellegent production. Keep your ears peeled on whats coming out of Oslo these days, you might become a closet nord-phile like myself. Grade: A-
Jaga Jazzist-What We Must (forward thinking-jazz, progressive)
When did Jazz become such a dirty word? What do most young people imagine when they hear this four-letter word? I guess either they remember the hot chick that played the flute in the first row back in junior high jazz ensemble or they might think about the flacid and spiritless "jazz" music that the local "Smooth Jazz" station whips up 24-7. The word itself, like rock, can contain a vast spectrum of styles and approaches in the CD bins at your local music store.
There was a time when Jazz was the underground. It was cutting edge american music. Artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman were pushing things forward with totally fresh sounds. Making it the most stimulating music around...tapping into your booty as well as your cerebral cortex. But over the years, like most good art genres, something got lost. I believe the real zietgiest for Jazz ended in the late 60's. After that, people just freaked out on the overwhelming quality of insanely good music from the 40's, 50's and 60's. It took a while for the general public to catch on to it and by the time they did, it was already done like dinner.
At some point, a few musicans decided that trying to sound just like Rollins or Coltrane was not what they wanted to do in this recently stagnating field of music. In this game there are those who will reproduce and those who will go out on a limb and try something new.
I believe that the Jaga Jazzist (an ensemble out of Norway) are one of these artists. Now, while they are not breaking any mindblowing new territory, the band is very adventurous in its explorations of jazz, rock and electronica. I have always felt that the coolest jazzlike music in the 70's and 80's and perty much still to this day came out of Europe. It seems that the creative baton was handed over to them sometime after Miles did Bitches Brew in 69.(That album itself starring a few Europeans) Jaga Jazzist is quite a large outfit enlisting something like 8 or 9 musicians. In the mix you'll hear all manor of horns, saxes, guitars,vibes, percussion and other stuff.
This is I believe the 3rd major release for them. The last album ,entitiled "The Stix" was a favorite of mine for that year. Such a nice blend of 60's jazz sensiblities and modern production with sweet treatments. Its a risky think fusing Jazz and Dance music. And its a path well-beaten. But whereas most of the artists going down this route rely more on the electronic side...just snipping and sampling bits of jazz heads and runs and then laying those down over programmed beats and what not, Jaga Jazzist are all well trained musicians with that forward-thinking edge using technology artfully to advance this aging art in a new direction. Breathing a little life into a slowly decaying medium.
This new album sees the Jazzist going down a slightly different avenue than "The Stix". That album had a very consistent tone throughout: energetic electro jazz fusion. This time they are all over the map. "For All You Happy People" slowly unravles with close recorded reeds and electric guitar creating a sort of cinematic moodscape. It reminds me of the music from another fine release, reed player, Lars Horntveth's 2003 solo release,"Pooka". Check that one out too!
And then on another track, "Hotel", the progressive rock flag comes out waving high. Spacious guitar riffs, airy synths, treated swirling wind instruments, acoustic drums, and piano all brought together with intellegent production. Keep your ears peeled on whats coming out of Oslo these days, you might become a closet nord-phile like myself. Grade: A-
posted by R.Chip DeGlinkta at 9:09 AM
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