What is your first question when you're listening to a piece or whole album of music for the first time? Yes, exactly! That's everyone's first question, right? Still clueless? What's wrong with you? Ok, so here's the correct answer:
Is it Jazz?
This is a review special about the first three releases on the young Karisma Records sub-label Is It Jazz? Records.
SOFT FFOG - Soft Ffog (CD) (2022)
Soft Ffog is a quartet, whose members have all been - and are still - active in several other groups. Unfortunately I'm not familiar with those bands (yet), except for keyboarder Lien Bjerkan's Wizrd, whose Jazz Rock frenzy "Seasons" I've reviewed over on VeilofSound.com, but given the reputation of the Norwegian scene I will go out on a limb and say that none of them plays on lackluster level.
Soft Ffog started as a commissioned project for Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2016 and played a couple of live shows every now and then, until in 2020 band leader and guitarist Tom Hasslan (Krokofant) decided that it was time to finally record an album. The self-titled debut is also the first release of the new label. But even though the group had started in a Jazz context...
The answer is that maybe it was supposed to be Jazz, but then it accidentally became Progressive Rock. Or it was actually meant to be Rock in the first place, but somehow turned into Jazz.
There's obviously some kinship with the aforementioned Wizrd, who themselves confidently enjoy the proximity to artists like Hedvid Mollestad, Kanaan, Motorpsycho, Seven Impale and so many more related fellow Norwegian genre fusionists. The main difference is that Soft Ffog is a purely instrumental band. Expertly juggling Return To Forever, King Crimson, Deep Purple and John MacLaughlin with a lot of emphasis on the power of the jam Soft Ffog make these three-quarters of an hour fly by fast.
This album doesn't try to do something radically new and innovative, yet instead concentrates on the energy and quality of its four tracks between Jazz, Prog and Hard Rock (the latter most forcefully emerging during the final piece "Dhalsim"). These guys love this stuff and it shows and carries over to the listener. This is just a joyful experience!
It's Jazz. But it's also - and probably even a bit more - Rock.
Soft Ffog started as a commissioned project for Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2016 and played a couple of live shows every now and then, until in 2020 band leader and guitarist Tom Hasslan (Krokofant) decided that it was time to finally record an album. The self-titled debut is also the first release of the new label. But even though the group had started in a Jazz context...
Is it Jazz?
The answer is that maybe it was supposed to be Jazz, but then it accidentally became Progressive Rock. Or it was actually meant to be Rock in the first place, but somehow turned into Jazz.
There's obviously some kinship with the aforementioned Wizrd, who themselves confidently enjoy the proximity to artists like Hedvid Mollestad, Kanaan, Motorpsycho, Seven Impale and so many more related fellow Norwegian genre fusionists. The main difference is that Soft Ffog is a purely instrumental band. Expertly juggling Return To Forever, King Crimson, Deep Purple and John MacLaughlin with a lot of emphasis on the power of the jam Soft Ffog make these three-quarters of an hour fly by fast.
This album doesn't try to do something radically new and innovative, yet instead concentrates on the energy and quality of its four tracks between Jazz, Prog and Hard Rock (the latter most forcefully emerging during the final piece "Dhalsim"). These guys love this stuff and it shows and carries over to the listener. This is just a joyful experience!
It's Jazz. But it's also - and probably even a bit more - Rock.
DATADYR - Woolgathering (2022)
Datadyr are a trio from Bergen and anything else I could tell you about them would immediately spoil the answer to the central question:
Is it Jazz?
Ok, the band was formed by Jazz students and I'll say it three times for each member on guitar, drums and bass: Yes, this is Jazz. This is Jazz. This is Jazz!
Even though piano or saxophone would still be a more apparant choice of lead in a Jazz trio than a guitar, Datadyr never give you any reason to doubt their jazziness. Recorded together in one room with as little overdubs as possible this album feels like a very immediate exposure, as if you've set up a chair in the middle of their jamming space.
The guitar reminds me a lot of what you'd hear in the various projects of Causa Sui and other members and friends of the El Paraiso Records family, while the upright bass as rhythmic foundation very firmly roots the music in tradional Jazz spectrum. The drums also lean more to the "old school" approach, but sometimes get convinced by the six strings to do subtle forays into Blues and Rock territory.
In the middle, right after the title track, "Woolgathering" doubles down on being Jazz by adding a tasty horn section to "Daybreaking", which later returns in the funky boogie of the band's theme song "Datadyr".
If you somehow missed the memo that Jazz is still alive and kicking and young talents won't stop entering its playing field - this one's for you! Great stuff.
Even though piano or saxophone would still be a more apparant choice of lead in a Jazz trio than a guitar, Datadyr never give you any reason to doubt their jazziness. Recorded together in one room with as little overdubs as possible this album feels like a very immediate exposure, as if you've set up a chair in the middle of their jamming space.
The guitar reminds me a lot of what you'd hear in the various projects of Causa Sui and other members and friends of the El Paraiso Records family, while the upright bass as rhythmic foundation very firmly roots the music in tradional Jazz spectrum. The drums also lean more to the "old school" approach, but sometimes get convinced by the six strings to do subtle forays into Blues and Rock territory.
In the middle, right after the title track, "Woolgathering" doubles down on being Jazz by adding a tasty horn section to "Daybreaking", which later returns in the funky boogie of the band's theme song "Datadyr".
If you somehow missed the memo that Jazz is still alive and kicking and young talents won't stop entering its playing field - this one's for you! Great stuff.
AKSEL RØED'S OTHER ASPECTS - Do You Dream In Colours? (2023)
I expect that by now you know how this review starts. First a very brief introduction to the artist: Aksel Røed is a prolific Norwegian saxophonist, who has now put together his own ensemble of eight players, which allows him to fast and flexibly move into any direction he desires.
Second of course the unavoidable question:
You gathered eight people
and noone came up with the idea
for a better cover artwork? Come on!
Oh yes, this is big band maximalist, often very Free Jazz, just as people love (and of course hate) it. Lots of lots of stuff happening here, and most of it including Sanders and Coleman worship.
No matter if you put on the short "Bergen Is The Prettiest In Blue" or the twelve+ minutes finale and highlight "When You Dream In Colours", which includes the obligatory band leader solo performance - all tunes here will infuse you with indeed colourful, vibrant Jazz club energy.
Nothing hinders you to listen to this back to back with the 1960's classics, The production is close, authentic and clear, no messing around.
Simply put: "Do You Dream In Colours?" is flawless. Except for that undeservingly poorly designed cover that is. With that title as a guideline you should have done better.
Second of course the unavoidable question:
and noone came up with the idea
for a better cover artwork? Come on!
Is it Jazz?
Oh yes, this is big band maximalist, often very Free Jazz, just as people love (and of course hate) it. Lots of lots of stuff happening here, and most of it including Sanders and Coleman worship.
No matter if you put on the short "Bergen Is The Prettiest In Blue" or the twelve+ minutes finale and highlight "When You Dream In Colours", which includes the obligatory band leader solo performance - all tunes here will infuse you with indeed colourful, vibrant Jazz club energy.
Nothing hinders you to listen to this back to back with the 1960's classics, The production is close, authentic and clear, no messing around.
Simply put: "Do You Dream In Colours?" is flawless. Except for that undeservingly poorly designed cover that is. With that title as a guideline you should have done better.
Is there more of that Jazz?
As we speak Datadyr have already released a follow up EP with material from the same recording sessions as their album, but a significantly different sound, as the four pieces on "Keymaster" are centered a lot more around moody Americana and light-hearted Latin vibes in the title track and the very smooth "Free Folk". Go listen to it here:
Beyond that there's an album from the experimental duo Leagus coming towards the end of April. Judging from the first promo track that's one going to be a quite different, but very exciting release. No doubt, Is It Jazz? Records is truly a label to keep your eyes and ears on!
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