SARAH ELGETI QUINTET - Synchronize
Gateway Records SEQ22015
Sarah Elgeti (ten, sop, flt, cla, bs cla) Marianne Caecillia Eriksen (alt, bar) Soren Bebe (pno, rhodes) Kristor Lybecker Brodsgaard (bs) Leifur Gunnarsson (bs) Andreas Fryland (drs)
This award winning young Danish saxophonist and composer hit the ground running in 2012 with her debut album "Into The Open" which received high critical acclaim throughout Europe. With the quality of depth and invention within her compositions it is not surprising that it has taken some considerable time to put together ten more originals, plus arrangements of two traditional folk songs. For this second recording, which can often be one of the most important and career advancing releases for a young musician, she has substituted guitar for piano completing a new and fresh rhythm section.
The title "Synchronize", in the artists own words reflects the spirituality and musical relationships in both the composing and performance of her music and is relevant on all levels.
As with her first album she once again shows a fine sense of melodic swing on tenor coupled with an individual approach on both flute and soprano. The ensemble passages are well coordinated with Marianne Caecillia Eriksen's sonorous baritone adding authority and drive. There is an underlying sense of power to the leaders playing, although it seems for the most part that this is held somewhat in reserve giving a lightness and ethereal feel to the music. The self penned melodies are all very strong, it is therefore a pity that in most cases the improvised passages are not fully developed leading to a lack of excitement and risk taking, so important in the best of jazz listening experiences. When the leader does stretch out on the vibrant "Cinderella 2012" and the searching theme of "City Lights" things are immediately taken to a higher level.
The album closes with two fine re-workings of traditional folk songs highlighting the leaders considerable arranging skills and emphasizing her completeness as a musician. There are many more chapters to be revealed in the Sarah Elgeti story and it will be interesting to see the reaction to "Synchronize" which is also to be released in America.
See also: www.sarahelgeti.com and the UK distributors web site www.discovery-records.com
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Gateway Records SEQ22015
Sarah Elgeti (ten, sop, flt, cla, bs cla) Marianne Caecillia Eriksen (alt, bar) Soren Bebe (pno, rhodes) Kristor Lybecker Brodsgaard (bs) Leifur Gunnarsson (bs) Andreas Fryland (drs)
This award winning young Danish saxophonist and composer hit the ground running in 2012 with her debut album "Into The Open" which received high critical acclaim throughout Europe. With the quality of depth and invention within her compositions it is not surprising that it has taken some considerable time to put together ten more originals, plus arrangements of two traditional folk songs. For this second recording, which can often be one of the most important and career advancing releases for a young musician, she has substituted guitar for piano completing a new and fresh rhythm section.
The title "Synchronize", in the artists own words reflects the spirituality and musical relationships in both the composing and performance of her music and is relevant on all levels.
As with her first album she once again shows a fine sense of melodic swing on tenor coupled with an individual approach on both flute and soprano. The ensemble passages are well coordinated with Marianne Caecillia Eriksen's sonorous baritone adding authority and drive. There is an underlying sense of power to the leaders playing, although it seems for the most part that this is held somewhat in reserve giving a lightness and ethereal feel to the music. The self penned melodies are all very strong, it is therefore a pity that in most cases the improvised passages are not fully developed leading to a lack of excitement and risk taking, so important in the best of jazz listening experiences. When the leader does stretch out on the vibrant "Cinderella 2012" and the searching theme of "City Lights" things are immediately taken to a higher level.
The album closes with two fine re-workings of traditional folk songs highlighting the leaders considerable arranging skills and emphasizing her completeness as a musician. There are many more chapters to be revealed in the Sarah Elgeti story and it will be interesting to see the reaction to "Synchronize" which is also to be released in America.
See also: www.sarahelgeti.com and the UK distributors web site www.discovery-records.com
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
