LONDON ODENSE ENSEMBLE - Live At Jaiyede Jazz Festival (Ochre vinyl LP) (2023)
Indeed this live LP stands on the shoulder of many predecessors. We've heard the madness of Black Cube Marriage, we've seen Mythic Sunship and Causa Sui both bringing guest saxophonists into the fold. The label has even specifically gathered spectacular Jazz Rock ensembles before - the Ellis Munk Ensemble and the Chicago Odense Ensemble.
And even if we only look closely just on the string of albums which subsequently lead to the live recording at hand, we're already opening Pandora's wallet: It started with a double strike of two LPs by the Martin Rude & Jakoc Skøtt Duo in 2020. The Danish duo then became one-third British by transforming into the Rude Skott Osborn Trio for "The Virtue Of Temperance", which could have been the final culmination. But it looks as that had only been the start, because afterwards the gates opened even wider and the group became the five-member London Odense Ensemble, releasing the two absolutely stunning "Jaiyede Sessions" in 2022 and 2023. Yes, that's this year and damn, it has already been good to us, right? Enter the logical next step, the baptism by fire, the first live album of the formation. Actually, as the title already suggests, this live show was recorded in 2021, immediately following the sessions, which led to the two studio albums.
Similar to the live album of Edena Gardens, the other project the label heavily focusses on at the moment the three jams on "Live At Jaiyede Jazz Festival" mix reprises of established material with completely fresh tunes.
The quarter-hour opener "Energy Ascending" doesn't only bear a title which seems to be plucked right out of the golden age of Free Spiritual Jazz, but also takes us there musically. Coltrane worship isn't anything new in these parts of Denmark, but starting with the flute (which later switches to saxophone), adding the piano and playing around a groove that is very much a variation of "A Love Supreme" or Sanders' "The Creator Has A Masterplan" these guys have seldom hit the tribute nail on the head as precise as here. Yet while maintaining the Jazz core of the idea, they push it into Rock aesthetics towards the finale.
Much more a Kraut jam right from the beginning, but very distinct due to its flute alone is "Sojourner", a dreamily expanded interpretation of the track from the "Jaiyede Sessions Vol. I".
The closer's title "Exit Momentum" refers to "Enter Momentum", also from "Vol. I", but isn't build on the same theme as far as I can tell. Instead it mostly is an ever-ascending smooth Jazz Rock play upon the canonical "Tomorrow Never Knows" Psychedelic Rock groove.
As always with music like this almost everything relies on the ability, tastefulness and chemistry of the players. And Tamar Osborn (wind instruments), Al McSween (keys), Jonas Munk (guitar), Martin Rude (bass) and Jakob Skøtt (drums) have all of those in spades.
So is this the one? - Well, it's probably too short for that with just over half an hour playing time. But who cares, it's amazing as long as it lasts! Yet another stunning entry into one of my favorite label catalogues.
And even if we only look closely just on the string of albums which subsequently lead to the live recording at hand, we're already opening Pandora's wallet: It started with a double strike of two LPs by the Martin Rude & Jakoc Skøtt Duo in 2020. The Danish duo then became one-third British by transforming into the Rude Skott Osborn Trio for "The Virtue Of Temperance", which could have been the final culmination. But it looks as that had only been the start, because afterwards the gates opened even wider and the group became the five-member London Odense Ensemble, releasing the two absolutely stunning "Jaiyede Sessions" in 2022 and 2023. Yes, that's this year and damn, it has already been good to us, right? Enter the logical next step, the baptism by fire, the first live album of the formation. Actually, as the title already suggests, this live show was recorded in 2021, immediately following the sessions, which led to the two studio albums.
Similar to the live album of Edena Gardens, the other project the label heavily focusses on at the moment the three jams on "Live At Jaiyede Jazz Festival" mix reprises of established material with completely fresh tunes.
The quarter-hour opener "Energy Ascending" doesn't only bear a title which seems to be plucked right out of the golden age of Free Spiritual Jazz, but also takes us there musically. Coltrane worship isn't anything new in these parts of Denmark, but starting with the flute (which later switches to saxophone), adding the piano and playing around a groove that is very much a variation of "A Love Supreme" or Sanders' "The Creator Has A Masterplan" these guys have seldom hit the tribute nail on the head as precise as here. Yet while maintaining the Jazz core of the idea, they push it into Rock aesthetics towards the finale.
Much more a Kraut jam right from the beginning, but very distinct due to its flute alone is "Sojourner", a dreamily expanded interpretation of the track from the "Jaiyede Sessions Vol. I".
The closer's title "Exit Momentum" refers to "Enter Momentum", also from "Vol. I", but isn't build on the same theme as far as I can tell. Instead it mostly is an ever-ascending smooth Jazz Rock play upon the canonical "Tomorrow Never Knows" Psychedelic Rock groove.
As always with music like this almost everything relies on the ability, tastefulness and chemistry of the players. And Tamar Osborn (wind instruments), Al McSween (keys), Jonas Munk (guitar), Martin Rude (bass) and Jakob Skøtt (drums) have all of those in spades.
So is this the one? - Well, it's probably too short for that with just over half an hour playing time. But who cares, it's amazing as long as it lasts! Yet another stunning entry into one of my favorite label catalogues.
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