2017

Tropiques är Goran Kajfes nya grupp. En kvartett med lika delar jazz och minimalism som leker med vårt tidsbegrepp och försätter oss i musikalisk hypnos. Musiker förutom Goran är Johan Berthling, klaviaturgeniet Alexander Zethson och Johan Holmegard (Dungen). Skivan är inspelad i legendariska Atlantis-studion och mixad av Andreas Werliin (Fire!, Tonbruket).

Haffner Wolfgang: Kind of Spain 2017 [Digipack / CD]

Flerfaldigt firade jazzsångerskan och pianisten Diana Krall har på senare år varit mer inriktad på att skapa tidlös popmusik. Nu återvänder hon till jazzen och gör en ny djupdykning i den amerikanska sångboken med albumet "Turn Up the Quiet", som producerats av Tommy LiPuma.

Line up:<br/>Lars Danielsson / double bass, cello, piano intro on 05 & 08, wah-wah cello & guembri on 09<br/>Grégory Privat / piano<br/>John Parricelli / guitars<br/>Magnus Öström / drums & percussion<br/><br/>Music must touch the emotions<br/><br/>For Lars Danielsson, that consummate craftsman of sound on both cello and bass, the power of music resides in melody. It is the heart from which everything else develops, and his Liberetto ensemble has stayed true to this principle again in its third album. The word 'Liberetto' which Danielsson coined for the name of the group also serves well as a descriptor of his art. 'Libretto' is a reference both to Western art music which is the source of his compositions, and to their lyrical, vocal character. But also hidden in the band's name is the Latin adjective 'liber' (free). That stands for improvisation, for how individuals can take lines and shapes and adapt them, but above all it refers to Danielsson's musical understanding which acknowledges no boundaries.<br/><br/>This third edition of "Liberetto" transcends more of those boundaries than ever before. The opening track of the album looks heavenward: "I wrote 'Agnus Dei' for my mother," Danielsson explains. "She sang in a choir - as I did later too. The spirituality and the ceremony of liturgical music left their mark on me." Following on from this gentle, almost classical hymn is "Lviv", a tune which is very differently wired: it's brisk, based on a simple poppish melodic hook and it has an uncommon sense of rhythmic forward propulsion. What follows is many-sided: "Sonata in Spain" the band toys with Spanish folklore, "Taxim By Night" has a waft of Turkish-Arabic scent, and "Gimbri Heart" has African charm and warmth. By contrast, "Mr Miller" is a touching ballad with a 'Nordic Sound' aesthetic.<br/><br/>All twelve tracks are compositions by Danielsson, and they sum up what 'Liberetto' is all about: through keeping structure and freedom in such a fine balance, the musical expression acquires an almost weightless sense of poise and easefulness. And binding it all together is the wonderful interaction of the musicians. Whether they are playing unison lines, solo-ing and accompanying, or engaging in interplay, the ball is generously and deftly passed from one player to another.

Pianist Jan Lundgren makes music like a brilliant architect. If he were to build a house, it would - in the words of the song - be a very very very fine house. And it would have all his hallmarks about it. It would show his deep understanding of both tradition and modernism, together with his preternatural instinct for bringing the two together. It would visibly convey his unique way of blending the very best of American design and construction with immaculate European style and taste. To extend the metaphor, Lundgren's building on several floors would be a delight to inhabit, with rooms that have fascinating shapes, cosy corners, clear lines, rooms that would contain artefacts and objets trouvés which would allow nostalgia to well up in the visitor's mind. There would also be a spacious loft with the room to play, to improvise and to wander. Ever since the early days of his career, Lundgren's artistry has been defined by change and renewal, and yet he never loses sight of the past. His album "Potsdamer Platz" is a statement that is personal, a faithful portrayal of the unique perspective from which he experiences and performs jazz.

1975 Album featuring Chick Corea, Lenny White, Al Di Meola and Stanley Clarke, including songs such as "Dayride", "Jungle Waterfall" and many more.

Sångerska, låtskrivare och basist, och som basist har hon bl.a. spelat med Manu Katché och Marilyn Mazur. I eget namn är det en sval pop med olika vibbar - lite åt Stina Nordenstam/Joni Mitchell-hållet. Bra på Jazzland.