May 2015
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FAST TRACKS...more reviews in brief
ANDERS JORMIN / LENA WILLEMARK / KARIN NAKAGAWA - Trees Of Light (ECM)
A collaborative trio featuring two musicians from Sweden and Japanese koto virtuoso, Karin Nakagawa that draws music from the folk and classical traditions of their respective countries. The best known to readers of these pages will be bassist Anders Jormin through his work with painists Bobo Stenson and Jon Balke, and also with Charles Lloyd and Tomasz Stanko.
All three members contribute compositions, with the arrangements credited to the Trio with the music performed adhering very much to their collective identity. Often instruments swap 'roles' with the 25 string koto accompanying violin and bass, although perhaps it when Jormin takes the more traditonal line and anchors down proceedings that the music is at its best
Reviewed by Nick Lea
A collaborative trio featuring two musicians from Sweden and Japanese koto virtuoso, Karin Nakagawa that draws music from the folk and classical traditions of their respective countries. The best known to readers of these pages will be bassist Anders Jormin through his work with painists Bobo Stenson and Jon Balke, and also with Charles Lloyd and Tomasz Stanko.
All three members contribute compositions, with the arrangements credited to the Trio with the music performed adhering very much to their collective identity. Often instruments swap 'roles' with the 25 string koto accompanying violin and bass, although perhaps it when Jormin takes the more traditonal line and anchors down proceedings that the music is at its best
Reviewed by Nick Lea
SAVINA YANNATOU & PRIMAVERA EN SALONICO - Songs Of Thessaloniki (ECM)
For her fourth release for ECM Savina Yannatou loks to her own hometown and delves deep in to the complex history of the cities multicultural past. The music is therefore very rooted in tradition, and the assembled musicians bring authentic instruments from their musical and cultural heritage employing the oud, nay and qanun along with more familiar instruments.
The music is drawn from the Thessoliniki of the 19th and early 20th century and depicts the bustling and vibrant city that embraced many different religions and communities with influences from Western European, Greeks, Jews, Armenians and Pontiac Greeks all thrown into the melting pot.
As you will by now have established, this is not a jazz album, but collects traditional songs from Armenia, Greece and Turkey, as well as Irish folk song to produce a music that is as much a hybrid of styles and diverse influences as jazz would become, and yet still has the power and beauty to communicate it's message in the 21st century.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
For her fourth release for ECM Savina Yannatou loks to her own hometown and delves deep in to the complex history of the cities multicultural past. The music is therefore very rooted in tradition, and the assembled musicians bring authentic instruments from their musical and cultural heritage employing the oud, nay and qanun along with more familiar instruments.
The music is drawn from the Thessoliniki of the 19th and early 20th century and depicts the bustling and vibrant city that embraced many different religions and communities with influences from Western European, Greeks, Jews, Armenians and Pontiac Greeks all thrown into the melting pot.
As you will by now have established, this is not a jazz album, but collects traditional songs from Armenia, Greece and Turkey, as well as Irish folk song to produce a music that is as much a hybrid of styles and diverse influences as jazz would become, and yet still has the power and beauty to communicate it's message in the 21st century.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
