KNUT RIISNAES QUARTET - The Kernel
Losen: LOS223-2
Knut Riisnaes: saxophone; Anders Aarum: piano; Jens Fossum: bass; Tom Olstad: drums
Recorded 26th September 2018 by Dag Erik Johansen and Kai Andersen at Atletic Sound, Halden, Norway, and 11th February 2019 by Vidar Lunden at Musikkloftet, Asker, Norway.
This quartet played on Riisnaes’ 2017 set, ‘2nd thoughts’, and have been gigging together for the past couple of years, which lends them a solid and well-grounded cohesion. What is particularly attractive about this set is the way that the trio share solo spots and the attentive accompaniment that their bandmates provide, particularly on their interpretation of Andy McKee’s ‘Inner circle’ (track 6), which, at 7 and ½ minutes is the longest tune on this set. You might (as I am) be familiar with the Michel Petrucciani version and it is fair to say their this trio provides not only a warm and friendly nod to that but also create their own delicate interpretation. Riisnaes, as on previous outings, is quite sparing in his own tunes and, on this set, there is ‘West End Blues’ (track 5), which builds on the Shorter ‘Lady day’ and creates a walking blues around this, and Reminiscence, part 1’ (track 7) and ‘Reminiscence, part 2’ (track 8), which begin with a contemplative theme and then shift into Latin territory. The opening track, from Aarum, has a simmering piano line that skips around, with bass and drums, in a ¾ non-waltz before Riisnaes steps in for his solo.
The sax playing here wouldn’t be out of place among any of the muscular hard-bop players of the late 1950s. This means that the covers (from Dorham, Shorter, Andy McKee, Cedar Walton, Horace Parlan) sit comfortably alongside the originals from each of the quartet’s members. The vibrato heavy tone gives an almost woodwind sound which provides an intimacy and clarity to Riisnaes playing. This is an uplifting follow-up to their 2017 album and is highly recommended.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Losen: LOS223-2
Knut Riisnaes: saxophone; Anders Aarum: piano; Jens Fossum: bass; Tom Olstad: drums
Recorded 26th September 2018 by Dag Erik Johansen and Kai Andersen at Atletic Sound, Halden, Norway, and 11th February 2019 by Vidar Lunden at Musikkloftet, Asker, Norway.
This quartet played on Riisnaes’ 2017 set, ‘2nd thoughts’, and have been gigging together for the past couple of years, which lends them a solid and well-grounded cohesion. What is particularly attractive about this set is the way that the trio share solo spots and the attentive accompaniment that their bandmates provide, particularly on their interpretation of Andy McKee’s ‘Inner circle’ (track 6), which, at 7 and ½ minutes is the longest tune on this set. You might (as I am) be familiar with the Michel Petrucciani version and it is fair to say their this trio provides not only a warm and friendly nod to that but also create their own delicate interpretation. Riisnaes, as on previous outings, is quite sparing in his own tunes and, on this set, there is ‘West End Blues’ (track 5), which builds on the Shorter ‘Lady day’ and creates a walking blues around this, and Reminiscence, part 1’ (track 7) and ‘Reminiscence, part 2’ (track 8), which begin with a contemplative theme and then shift into Latin territory. The opening track, from Aarum, has a simmering piano line that skips around, with bass and drums, in a ¾ non-waltz before Riisnaes steps in for his solo.
The sax playing here wouldn’t be out of place among any of the muscular hard-bop players of the late 1950s. This means that the covers (from Dorham, Shorter, Andy McKee, Cedar Walton, Horace Parlan) sit comfortably alongside the originals from each of the quartet’s members. The vibrato heavy tone gives an almost woodwind sound which provides an intimacy and clarity to Riisnaes playing. This is an uplifting follow-up to their 2017 album and is highly recommended.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
