MARIUS NESET - Circle Of Chimes
ACT Records 9038-2
Marius Neset (tnr, sop) Lionel Loueke (gtr, vcl) Andreas Brantelid (cello) Ingred Neset (flt, pic, alt flt) Ivo Neame (pno) Jim Hart (vbs, mar, perc) Peter Eldh (bs) Anton Eger (drs, perc)
A prodigy of Britain's Django Bates, whilst studying under him at The Copenhagen Rhythmic Conservatory, Bergen born sax man Marius Neset is one of the hottest properties on the European contemporary music scene. Accomplished in both classical music and jazz, the 32 year old should have a brilliant artistic future ahead of him. He can be both a ferocious improviser and a player with a highly melodic and light touch whenever desired. Inspired by the works of Frank Zappa and Pat Metheny everything about this musician is of today as he constantly seeks new boundaries and ways to transcend them. For this, the eighth album under his own name, he has chosen to work with other forward looking players, including our own Ivo Neame and Jim Hart, both with the experience at the cutting edge of sound to be compatible alongside the saxophone master.
Originally conceived for a new years day concert in Cologne , which attracted an audience of fifteen hundred, the music on offer here takes a full panoramic view of emotions from deep melancholy to the highly optimistic. The pieces are all composed and arranged by the leader himself. It is certainly music for serious listening, from the opening chimes of the slowly developing "Satellite" to the edgy staccato tenor on the closer "Eclipse" there is no rest for the inquiring ear. Mr Neset not only shows us his enormous improvising ability at the very edge of coherent sound but also impresses in quieter more mellow moments such as the ballad like "A New Resolution " and the delicate "Prague Ballet". His choice of the other participating musicians is superb with the cello of Andreas Brantelid particularly in synchronization with the saxophonists thoughts. From a UK perspective Jim Hart adds essential colour to proceedings, as he always does and the solo prowess of Ivo Neame's piano interludes stand alongside anything in this musical environment.
No one will be dancing to the music here, but for those with an interest in the development of forward thinking European jazz it's a must have.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
ACT Records 9038-2
Marius Neset (tnr, sop) Lionel Loueke (gtr, vcl) Andreas Brantelid (cello) Ingred Neset (flt, pic, alt flt) Ivo Neame (pno) Jim Hart (vbs, mar, perc) Peter Eldh (bs) Anton Eger (drs, perc)
A prodigy of Britain's Django Bates, whilst studying under him at The Copenhagen Rhythmic Conservatory, Bergen born sax man Marius Neset is one of the hottest properties on the European contemporary music scene. Accomplished in both classical music and jazz, the 32 year old should have a brilliant artistic future ahead of him. He can be both a ferocious improviser and a player with a highly melodic and light touch whenever desired. Inspired by the works of Frank Zappa and Pat Metheny everything about this musician is of today as he constantly seeks new boundaries and ways to transcend them. For this, the eighth album under his own name, he has chosen to work with other forward looking players, including our own Ivo Neame and Jim Hart, both with the experience at the cutting edge of sound to be compatible alongside the saxophone master.
Originally conceived for a new years day concert in Cologne , which attracted an audience of fifteen hundred, the music on offer here takes a full panoramic view of emotions from deep melancholy to the highly optimistic. The pieces are all composed and arranged by the leader himself. It is certainly music for serious listening, from the opening chimes of the slowly developing "Satellite" to the edgy staccato tenor on the closer "Eclipse" there is no rest for the inquiring ear. Mr Neset not only shows us his enormous improvising ability at the very edge of coherent sound but also impresses in quieter more mellow moments such as the ballad like "A New Resolution " and the delicate "Prague Ballet". His choice of the other participating musicians is superb with the cello of Andreas Brantelid particularly in synchronization with the saxophonists thoughts. From a UK perspective Jim Hart adds essential colour to proceedings, as he always does and the solo prowess of Ivo Neame's piano interludes stand alongside anything in this musical environment.
No one will be dancing to the music here, but for those with an interest in the development of forward thinking European jazz it's a must have.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
