TONBRUKET - Masters of Fog
ACT Records 9892-2
Dan Berglund (bs, elb) Martin Hederos (pno synth's,violin) Johan Lindstrom (gtr, pedal steel gtr, keys) Andreas Werlin (drs, perc)
This the sixth album by Tonbruket that has just been released by ACT to commemorate their tenth anniversary. Leader Dan Berglund, who is from Pilgrimstad in Sweden, came to fame as a founder member of EST who by common consent took piano trio jazz to new heights and uncharted waters for fifteen years until the tragic death in 2008 of Esbjorn Svensson their game changing pianist and leader at the age of only 44. The translation into English of the bands name is "Tone Workshop" a description that this recording certainly lives up to. The leader is one of the master bass men on the European contemporary jazz scene, standing easily alongside the likes of Dilter Ilg and Lars Danielsson. As well as his own quartet, he has in recent years, played and recorded with The Fire Orchestra, Bugge Wesseltoft's New Conception Of Jazz and ex EST compatriot Magnus Ostrom. For this project, which is entirely different from any other that the bassist has been involved with, he has chosen three fine musicians from his own country, all of whom have had wide experience, across a number of musical genres, as well as jazz.
The music here is nothing like the EST output. It draws on many other sources, such as progressive rock Americana and sophisticated funk, it could be described reasonably as ambient electronica, with an overall sound somewhat along the lines of French band St Germain or the later works of the aforesaid Bugge Weseltoft. Above all, it is of the very highest quality and contains enough elements of jazz (as we know it!) to satisfy most listeners. There are no straight ahead direct musical statements, four bar exchanges or the blues, but instead a groove based, ever changing soundscape that keeps the listener fully locked in at all times. All the composing is from within the band with guitarist Johan Lindstrom being the most prolific having contributed to seven of the eleven themes. There are some exotic orchestral like passages from the synthesizers, the violin adds a welcome extra dimension to some pieces, while the drumming leans towards elements of progressive rock. Dan Berglund himself has a prominent place on both bass instruments although the music is guitar led for the greater part. Two of the more lengthy tracks make the strongest impression. On the opener and title track Masters of Fog, we find lilting guitar riffs and a fine piano interlude in the Esbjorn Svensson mode. The Barn gives us lush orchestral harmonies underpinning the violin lead, plus the brief Waiting For Damocles Sword is hard hitting and dramatic in its own unique way.
This music does not give up its secrets easily, but repeated listening has many rewards and can easily persuade the listener to investigate the band's back catalogue.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
ACT Records 9892-2
Dan Berglund (bs, elb) Martin Hederos (pno synth's,violin) Johan Lindstrom (gtr, pedal steel gtr, keys) Andreas Werlin (drs, perc)
This the sixth album by Tonbruket that has just been released by ACT to commemorate their tenth anniversary. Leader Dan Berglund, who is from Pilgrimstad in Sweden, came to fame as a founder member of EST who by common consent took piano trio jazz to new heights and uncharted waters for fifteen years until the tragic death in 2008 of Esbjorn Svensson their game changing pianist and leader at the age of only 44. The translation into English of the bands name is "Tone Workshop" a description that this recording certainly lives up to. The leader is one of the master bass men on the European contemporary jazz scene, standing easily alongside the likes of Dilter Ilg and Lars Danielsson. As well as his own quartet, he has in recent years, played and recorded with The Fire Orchestra, Bugge Wesseltoft's New Conception Of Jazz and ex EST compatriot Magnus Ostrom. For this project, which is entirely different from any other that the bassist has been involved with, he has chosen three fine musicians from his own country, all of whom have had wide experience, across a number of musical genres, as well as jazz.
The music here is nothing like the EST output. It draws on many other sources, such as progressive rock Americana and sophisticated funk, it could be described reasonably as ambient electronica, with an overall sound somewhat along the lines of French band St Germain or the later works of the aforesaid Bugge Weseltoft. Above all, it is of the very highest quality and contains enough elements of jazz (as we know it!) to satisfy most listeners. There are no straight ahead direct musical statements, four bar exchanges or the blues, but instead a groove based, ever changing soundscape that keeps the listener fully locked in at all times. All the composing is from within the band with guitarist Johan Lindstrom being the most prolific having contributed to seven of the eleven themes. There are some exotic orchestral like passages from the synthesizers, the violin adds a welcome extra dimension to some pieces, while the drumming leans towards elements of progressive rock. Dan Berglund himself has a prominent place on both bass instruments although the music is guitar led for the greater part. Two of the more lengthy tracks make the strongest impression. On the opener and title track Masters of Fog, we find lilting guitar riffs and a fine piano interlude in the Esbjorn Svensson mode. The Barn gives us lush orchestral harmonies underpinning the violin lead, plus the brief Waiting For Damocles Sword is hard hitting and dramatic in its own unique way.
This music does not give up its secrets easily, but repeated listening has many rewards and can easily persuade the listener to investigate the band's back catalogue.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
