Ole Jacob Hystad Quartet - Tune In - Take Out (2002)

From the jazz metropolis Stord comes the saxophonist Ole Jacob Hystad. His debut CD, "Touch Of Time" from 1998, more than suggested that we were dealing here with a musician in the extension of the bebop tradition who really had a lot on his mind. "Tune In - Take Out" confirms that assumption in every way. ~ by Tor Hammerø. 

Participating in the debut were, as now, the very talented Danish pianist Ben Besiakov and bassist Sigurd Ulveseth, who both together with Hystad and with his own bands have told us that we are dealing with a solid and hard-swinging musician. The drummer is thus the only "new" one here and, without disparagement to Stein Inge Brækhus who did an excellent job in 1998, it is actually not possible to find many people who fill such a role better in such a musical expression than the Danish court drummer - I just take it for granted that he is - Alex Riel. He has played with everything and everyone and everyone has played with him, and the reasons are obvious. More groovy, stylish and always just as life-affirming drumming, there are only a handful worldwide who can match the gentle Dane and, despite the fact that he is around 60 by a good margin, his playing in 2002 is as exuberant as ever. Among the many legendary collaborations Riel has been involved in are numerous concerts and records with tenor giant Dexter Gordon. It is also easy to state that Ole Jacob Hystad has listened to Long Tall Dexter a lot and for a long time, and let it be clear: It is far from the stupidest thing you can do if you want to play the saxophone in continuation of the bebop tradition. One of Dexter's - he was one of those we were all on first name terms with without knowing him - most exuberant compositions, "Soy Califa", shows that Hystad has respect for the boss, while at the same time using him as inspiration. Here we find everything from original songs via standard songs to fairly unknown material by people like Jerry Bergonzi and Pat Martino. Hystad has some excursions on the baritone and soprano saxophone, but it is absolutely the tenor that is closest to his heart and that is where he is most Ole Jacob Hystad as well. In terms of tempo, the whole thing varies from the lightest ballads to fierce tempo affairs and the quartet thrives just as well regardless. I do that too - even if not a single marker is moved. [Translated from Norwegian] 

Taurus Records, TRCD 842, 2002
Recorded 12th-13th March, 2002 at NRK Recording Studios, Oslo, Norway 

Musicians:
Ole Jacob Hystad - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Baritone Sax
Ben Besiakov - Piano
Sigurd Ulveseth - Bass
Alex Riel - Drums

Tracks:
1. Invisible Light {Jerry Bergonzi} (4:57)
2. Some Time Ago {Sergio Mittanovitch} (5:47)
3. Blues On Shore {Ole Jacob Hystad} (3:59)
4. Isfahan {Duke Ellington} (5:27)
5. On The Stairs {Pat Martino} (4:51)
6. Sonnymoon For Two {Sonny Rollins} (6:10)
7. Soy Califa {Dexter Gordon} (5:44)
8. Up Jumped Spring {Freddie Hubbard} (6:26)
9. To Glass {Svein Olav Herstad} (3:54) 

Total Time: 47:20 

Credits:
Producer - Ole Jacob Hystad
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Kjetil Fluge
Co-mixed - Sigurd Ulveseth, Ole Jacob Hystad 

Blues On Shore