BUGGE WESSELTOFT - Bugge & Friends
Jazzland Recordings No 3 Recorded early 2015
Bugge Wesseltoft ( grand piano, fender rhodes,prophet 15, memorymoog, programming) Erik Truffaz (trumpet, effects) Ilthan Erasahin (tenor) Joaquin "Joe" Claussell (rythems, misc' percussion, toys, effects, programming) Erik Holm (congas, shakers, logdrum, tambourine, bolumbata) Marius Reskso (accoustic & electric bass) Andreas Bye (drs) Torun Eriksen (vcl) Beady Belle (vcl)
Recorded Early 2015.
Jens Christian "Bugge" Wesseltoft the 51 year old Norwegian pianist is a legendary figure in his own country and also much admired throughout Europe. Working out of Oslo with his own groups for the past ten years he was previously a sideman for the likes of Jan Garbarek, Arlid Anderson, and Terje Rypdal. His major work "A Little War Story" in 1993, said by some critics to be "a work of genius" brought him the attention of a wide jazz audience, and a long way from his original punk rock roots.
This album is his third venture on his own label. The overall concept is that of a bopish conventional quintet performing over a landscape of complex percussive rythems, electronics, special effects and loops. The thing that sets this music above other such examples is the exceptionally creative and intelligent way these elements are used to produce highly absorbing and exciting jazz with a clear twenty first century feel.
The musicianship is of the highest order throughout, although the two vocalist based tracks do not enhance proceedings very much. Listening to these seven tracks you can wonder if the roots to the music lies somewhere between Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters and the french group St Germain.
Things kick off on the opener "PLay It" with a conventional piano opening until tenor and trumpet join in above hypnotic drumming and electronics leading to a second keyboard solo before the trumpet rises again to signal the play out. Vocalist Torun Eriksen then joins the band for "Do It" against drums in rock like back beat mode and synthesizer before the horns make a late contribution. "Faz It" is a showcase for the trumpet of Erik Truffaz which opens unaccompanied before electric keyboards and splashing symbol sounds provide a multi layered background rising to the close.
The extended composition "Breed It" almost brings things back to normal with a melodic acoustic piano opening before a Getz like tenor solo from Ilthan Erasahin leads to the inevitable rise of electronics and percussion to the top of the mix as the trumpet signs off. The vocalist Beady Belle is rather dirge like and lost in the mix of "Make It" where the only saviour is the drumming of the up and coming Andreas Bye.
"Saisir" is a superb track full of drama and suprise from the opening rim shots, through the horn passages, piano solo and rising rythems building tension and controlled urgency throughout.
The disc ends with "Clauss It", with an ethereal electronic choir and driving percussion providing under pinning for the highly charged trumpet/tenor exchanges before the drums alone bring proceedings to a close.
Do not concern yourself with the silly titles or the perceived banks of electronica, this is a superb uplifting and energizing album. Add it to your collection as soon as you can.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Jazzland Recordings No 3 Recorded early 2015
Bugge Wesseltoft ( grand piano, fender rhodes,prophet 15, memorymoog, programming) Erik Truffaz (trumpet, effects) Ilthan Erasahin (tenor) Joaquin "Joe" Claussell (rythems, misc' percussion, toys, effects, programming) Erik Holm (congas, shakers, logdrum, tambourine, bolumbata) Marius Reskso (accoustic & electric bass) Andreas Bye (drs) Torun Eriksen (vcl) Beady Belle (vcl)
Recorded Early 2015.
Jens Christian "Bugge" Wesseltoft the 51 year old Norwegian pianist is a legendary figure in his own country and also much admired throughout Europe. Working out of Oslo with his own groups for the past ten years he was previously a sideman for the likes of Jan Garbarek, Arlid Anderson, and Terje Rypdal. His major work "A Little War Story" in 1993, said by some critics to be "a work of genius" brought him the attention of a wide jazz audience, and a long way from his original punk rock roots.
This album is his third venture on his own label. The overall concept is that of a bopish conventional quintet performing over a landscape of complex percussive rythems, electronics, special effects and loops. The thing that sets this music above other such examples is the exceptionally creative and intelligent way these elements are used to produce highly absorbing and exciting jazz with a clear twenty first century feel.
The musicianship is of the highest order throughout, although the two vocalist based tracks do not enhance proceedings very much. Listening to these seven tracks you can wonder if the roots to the music lies somewhere between Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters and the french group St Germain.
Things kick off on the opener "PLay It" with a conventional piano opening until tenor and trumpet join in above hypnotic drumming and electronics leading to a second keyboard solo before the trumpet rises again to signal the play out. Vocalist Torun Eriksen then joins the band for "Do It" against drums in rock like back beat mode and synthesizer before the horns make a late contribution. "Faz It" is a showcase for the trumpet of Erik Truffaz which opens unaccompanied before electric keyboards and splashing symbol sounds provide a multi layered background rising to the close.
The extended composition "Breed It" almost brings things back to normal with a melodic acoustic piano opening before a Getz like tenor solo from Ilthan Erasahin leads to the inevitable rise of electronics and percussion to the top of the mix as the trumpet signs off. The vocalist Beady Belle is rather dirge like and lost in the mix of "Make It" where the only saviour is the drumming of the up and coming Andreas Bye.
"Saisir" is a superb track full of drama and suprise from the opening rim shots, through the horn passages, piano solo and rising rythems building tension and controlled urgency throughout.
The disc ends with "Clauss It", with an ethereal electronic choir and driving percussion providing under pinning for the highly charged trumpet/tenor exchanges before the drums alone bring proceedings to a close.
Do not concern yourself with the silly titles or the perceived banks of electronica, this is a superb uplifting and energizing album. Add it to your collection as soon as you can.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
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