Terje Rypdal - Waves (1978)

Terje Rypdal’s Waves (recorded 1977) announced the beginning of the Norwegian guitarist’s association with Danish trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg, which continues to this day. The album also introduced one of Terje’s most enduringly popular pieces, "Per Ulv." “Rypdal’s album is a series of sonic excursions ranging from the expressionist to the impressionist…" wrote Record World. "Rypdal’s guitar and Mikkelborg’s trumpet are well-matched, with Manfred Eicher’s typically superb production putting it all in focus." ~ ecmrecords.com. 

Waves is one of the stronger mid to late 70s Terje Rypdal albums. It starts off with the song Per Ulv which features the trumpet playing of Palle Mikkelborg. ECM stalwart Jon Christensen plays drums on this album. For that matter JC played drums for both Terje Rypdal and Jan Garbarek even before both joined ECM and he contributed to their ECM albums during the 70s and beyond. If you are a fan of Terje Rypdal and also other ECM artists such as Eberhard Weber, Jan Garbarek and Ralph Towner, then you will appreciate this album. ~ Scott Jones, AMG. 

ECM Records, 827 419-2, 1978
Recorded September, 1977 at Talent Studio, Oslo, Norway 

Musicians:
Terje Rypdal - Electric Guitar, RMI Keyboard Computer, ARP Synthesizer
Palle Mikkelborg - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, RMI, Tac Piano, Ringmodulator
Sveinung Hovensjø - 6 & 4 String Electric Basses
Jon Christensen - Drums, Percussion 

Tracks:
1. Per Ulv {Terje Rypdal} (8:37)
2. Karusell {Terje Rypdal} (8:12)
3. Stenskoven {Palle Mikkelborg} (3:49)
4. Waves {Terje Rypdal} (5:42)
5. The Dain Curse {Terje Rypdal} (8:45)
6. Charisma {Terje Rypdal} (6:15) 

Total Time: 41:22 

Credits:
Producer - Manfred Eicher
Engineer - Jan Erik Kongshaug
Cover Photo - Klaus Knaup
Layout Design - Barbara Wojirsch 

Stenskoven [Palle Mikkelborg]

Lennart Aberg - Partial Solar Eclipse (1977) [vinyl]

Swedish saxophonist Lennart Åberg assembles a force to be reckoned with for this out-of-print JAPO release. Fronting a 20-piece ensemble that includes early appearances by pianist Bobo Stenson, bassist Palle Danielsson, and drummer Jon Christensen, Partial Solar Eclipse plays out in a six-part suite of epic proportions. The trumpet-led swell of Part I gives way to a groovy bass line amid big band brilliance infused with Brazilian percussion (courtesy of Okay Temiz). A soaring solo from Åberg flirts with the clouds even as it transcends them in fiery sunset. The twinned bass action from Stefan Brolund and Danielsson impels the spirit toward Stenson’s winding finish. Out of these dense beginnings comes a mosaic of hues and textures. From the flanged ground line and backing horns of Part II, which sound like a warped version of “Baby, You’re a Rich Man,” to the oozing finality of Part VI, the album as a whole bursts with a jazz that squeals, “I made it!” Jan Tolf’s guitar work is the conclusive highlight, along with the florid and soulful tenor work of Åberg himself. Between the two we find the Motown edge of Part III, with its radiant flute and oceanic pianism, and the killer baritone work in Part IV of Erik Nilsson, who also unleashes a fabulous bass clarinet solo over the chalky backdrop of Part V. This is an album that foregrounds itself by foiling the otherworldliness of all that came before. In so doing, it offers the glare of its namesake without the need for glasses. It’s an intense thrill ride, to be sure, but one that offers choice rewards even (if not especially) for those not tall enough to enter. ~ Tyran Grillo, ECM.

Japo Records, JAPO 60023 ST, 1978

Recorded 5^th-9^th September, 1977 At Metronome Studios, Stockholm, Sweden

Personnel:

Lennart Åberg - Alto, Soprano & Tenor Saxophones

Stephen Franckevich - Trumpet (#B3)

Bertil Lövgren - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn

Jan Kohlin - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn

Ulf Adåker - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn

Jörgen Johansson - Trombone (#B3)

Lars Olofsson - Trombone

Sven Larsson - Bass Trombone, Tuba

Håken Nyquist - French Horn, Trombone, Fluegelhorn

Ulf Andersson - Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute

Erik Nilsson - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute

Bobo Stenson - Piano, Electric Piano

Harald Svensson - Synthesizer (#A1,B1)

Jan Tolf - Electric Guitar (#A1-A3,B3)

Palle Danielsson - Bass (#1-5)

Stefan Brolund - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,B3)

Jon Christensen - Drums

Leroy Howe - Drums

Okay Temiz - Percussion (#A1-A3)

Tracks:

A1. Partial Solar Eclipse I (8:06)

A2. Partial Solar Eclipse II (6:01)

A3. Partial Solar Eclipse III (6:41)

B1. Partial Solar Eclipse IV (9:36)

B2. Partial Solar Eclipse V (4:22)

B3. Partial Solar Eclipse VI (6:47)

Total Time: 41:33

Credits:

Producer - Håken Elmquist

Engineer - Rune Persson, Metronome

Cover Photo - Stefan Söderhjelm, Lund Observatory

Layout - Barbara Wojirsch

Check back cover for further details.

Steve Kuhn Trio - Watch What Happens! (1968) [vinyl>flac]

Like many pianists, Steve Kuhn seems to put out one quality disc after another but doesn't ever seem to get the attention he deserves. This beautifully recorded studio date from 1968, with bassist Palle Danielsson and drummer Jon Christensen, is a good example. Eschewing the typical easygoing approaches to Michel Legrand's "Watch What Happens," he launches into a very brisk bossa nova arrangement. J.J. Johnson's gorgeous ballad "Lament" was never in better hands as Kuhn delivers a shimmering but poignant performance; the piece segues into Gary McFarland's unjustly neglected "Once We Loved." A mini-medley of Burt Bacharach songs, "Windows of the World" and "Here I Am," with its unusual chanting introduction, has also stood the test of time. Carla Bley's "Ad Infinitum" delves briefly into the avant-garde but quickly reverts to post-bop. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

The perfection and certainty of the Kuhn music are demonstrated by the fact that Steve recorded almost all numbers on this record in one single sweep. ~ Extract taken from Liner Notes by Joachim E. Berendt.

This LP was one of the original Steve Kuhn albums I bought way back in the late seventies. One I always keep coming back to with fresh ears, Enjoy!

MPS/BASF Records, CRM 676, 1971

Recorded 4^th July, 1968 at MPS Tonstudio Villingen/Black Forest, Germany

Personnel:

Steve Kuhn - Piano

Palle Danielsson - Bass

Jon Christensen - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Watch What Happens {Michel Legrand} (2:47)

A2. Silver {Steve Kuhn} (2:14)

A3. Lament {Jay Jay Johnson}, Once We Loved {Gary McFarland} (6:54)

A4. Tom Jones {John Addison, Mack Davis} (6:37)

B1. Windows Of The World, Here I Am {Burt Bacherach} (4:17)

B2. I Fall In Love Too Easily {Sam Cahn, Jule Styne} (4:03)

B3. Ad Infinitum {Carla Bley} (8:56)

Credits:

Producer - Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer, Joachim E. Berendt

Recording Engineer - Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer

Recording Director - Willi Fruth

Photos - German Hasenfratz

Graphic Work - Heinz Bahr

Cover - Lucio Fontana

Liner Notes - Joachim E. Berendt

Mike Nock - Ondas

I'd call this one of the overlooked masterpieces of ECM. Rarely have piano trios produced such astounding conversations, this is the territory of  Evans/LaFarro/Motian or Jarrett/Haden/Higgins, hallowed ground indeed, but I have no problem elevating this album to that status. You can read Thom Jurek's ecstatic review, but first here are Mike's memories:

"Manfred wrote me a letter after hearing In Out and Around, saying he wished that album had been on ECM and telling me he wanted to make a trio recording with Gomez, Christensen and myself.
I played quite often with Gomez on recordings and tours, but never with Christensen.
The first day in the studio the trio played quite differently - free high energy jazz, which was erased before I even heard it!  I loved the session but Manfred seemed disinterested.
The next morning he got up at dawn and we began recording around 9am.  By 11am we were finished as he knew he had what he wanted.
It was a very collaborative session.  The first piece; ‘Shadows of Forgotten Love’ was on In Out and Around but Manfred had his own vision for the piece, suggesting I just play the first 16 bars and forget about the bridge section.  We finished the first take and I saw Manfred gesticulating wildly in the control room for us to continue - which we did and which you can actually hear on the recording.  It was all very spontaneous and a wonderfully unusual collaborative experience for me.
I was very much into Brazilian music and culture at the time ('Ondas' means 'waves' in Portuguese) but interestingly enough I came up with the title while on one of my frequent visits to Nelson NZ, situated on Golden Bay.
Manfred loved the title, as apart from the sound of the word it also had a somewhat enigmatic quality, as he felt very few people would know what it actually meant".
Mike Nock - September 15, 2010

Mike Nock celebrated his 70th birthday on September 27, 2010.

I've got to say that I mourn that first session that Manfred erased so preemptively, how nice would it be to have a companion album with a completely different feel?