MMO-Ensemble - Any Day Now
ORA Fonogram: OF134
Martin Myhre Olsen: alto and soprano saxophones; Andrea Roligheten: tenor and baritone saxophones, bass clarinet; Oyvind Broekke: trombone; Erik Kimestad Pedersen: trumpet; Siril Malmedal Hauge: vocals; Karl Bjora: guitar; Ayumi Tanaka: piano; Hakon Aase: violin; Adrian Loseth Waade: violin; Kaja Fjellberg Pettersen: ‘cello; Christian Meaas Svendsen: double bass, voice; Simon Olderskog Albertsen: drums, vibraphone
Recorded 23rd January 2017 by Daniel Wold at Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo
The name of this ensemble comes from the initials of its leader. This is their third project and, like its predecessors, takes its inspiration from poetry (‘Western Mystery’ was based on poems by Emily Dickenson). Here it is the words of a James Baldwin poem that provides the titles for the pieces in the set (‘Why don’t you take / me in your arms and / carry me out of this / lonely place?’). Poems from Emily Dickenson and e.e. cummings are also used, with the delivery of the poems being a mix of singing and declaiming that sets the mood of the music.
While MMO-Ensemble has recorded previously, here the number of musicians has expanded to twelve plus vocals. This gives a rich palette of sounds to work together and Olsen compositions provide plenty of room for the combinations of instruments to explore and intertwine. There is also scope for improvisation and each piece will take unexpected turns during its development. I enjoyed the way the music veered between an abstract, cerebral stance, not unlike contemporary composed music, and a more primal and frenetic sound.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
ORA Fonogram: OF134
Martin Myhre Olsen: alto and soprano saxophones; Andrea Roligheten: tenor and baritone saxophones, bass clarinet; Oyvind Broekke: trombone; Erik Kimestad Pedersen: trumpet; Siril Malmedal Hauge: vocals; Karl Bjora: guitar; Ayumi Tanaka: piano; Hakon Aase: violin; Adrian Loseth Waade: violin; Kaja Fjellberg Pettersen: ‘cello; Christian Meaas Svendsen: double bass, voice; Simon Olderskog Albertsen: drums, vibraphone
Recorded 23rd January 2017 by Daniel Wold at Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo
The name of this ensemble comes from the initials of its leader. This is their third project and, like its predecessors, takes its inspiration from poetry (‘Western Mystery’ was based on poems by Emily Dickenson). Here it is the words of a James Baldwin poem that provides the titles for the pieces in the set (‘Why don’t you take / me in your arms and / carry me out of this / lonely place?’). Poems from Emily Dickenson and e.e. cummings are also used, with the delivery of the poems being a mix of singing and declaiming that sets the mood of the music.
While MMO-Ensemble has recorded previously, here the number of musicians has expanded to twelve plus vocals. This gives a rich palette of sounds to work together and Olsen compositions provide plenty of room for the combinations of instruments to explore and intertwine. There is also scope for improvisation and each piece will take unexpected turns during its development. I enjoyed the way the music veered between an abstract, cerebral stance, not unlike contemporary composed music, and a more primal and frenetic sound.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
