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Knut Riisn?s Quartet: 2nd Thoughts

By Mark Sullivan
January 8, 2017
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Contemporary Norwegian jazz has a well-deserved reputation for atmospheric beauty. Such players as saxophonists

Jan Garbarek

saxophone
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jan Garbarek and

Trygve Seim

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Trygve Seim, trumpeters

Nils Petter Molvaer

trumpet
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Nils Petter Molvaer and

Arve Henriksen

trumpet
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Arve Henriksen, and guitarists

Terje Rypdal

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Terje Rypdal and

Eivind Aarset

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Eivind Aarset (all associated with ECM Records) have attracted international attention for many years. But Norway also has strong roots in bebop, and the

Knut Riisnæs

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Knut Riisn?s Quartet provides solid proof.

It's certainly bop with a contemporary edge, as shown by the opener, the title tune by pianist

Mulgrew Miller

piano
1955 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Mulgrew Miller. It's an up-tempo Latin tune, which the band plays with a controlled abandon. Pianist

Anders Aarum

" data-original-title="" title="">Anders Aarum contributed "Petite Prix," another up-tempo tune with an intricate head. It's definitely bebop, but it could be a

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner feature, or even one of

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett's compositions for the Belonging quartet. Aarum turns in a fine solo, then lays out for the first part of Riisn?s' saxophone solo, which also spotlights the rhythm team of bassist Jens Fossum and drummer Tom Olstad.

"She Was Too Good To Me" is the first of the ballads, a Rogers and Hart standard (originally titled "He Was Too Good To Me") that brings out the lyrical side of the group. "Touching" is Riisn?s' only composition, an aptly named ballad feature for saxophone and piano. The final tracks were recorded live in Oslo. "Liten Vals" is a lovely waltz which opens with a brief bass solo. The finale is another beautiful ballad, the standard "Crazy She Calls Me."

Knut Riisnæs

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Knut Riisn?s has a big tenor sound in the tradition of

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins (he also credits

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane as early influences). He has recorded and toured with modernists like

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield,

Jon Christensen

drums
1943 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Christensen and

Arild Andersen

bass, acoustic
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Arild Andersen (appearing on 1975's ECM album Clouds In My Head). He and his quartet are straight-ahead and swinging all the way here, and it's a joy to hear. An unusual view of Norwegian jazz, as well as further evidence of the broad stylistic range of the Losen Records label.

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Track Listing

2nd Thoughts; Petite Prix; She Was Too Goood To Me; Meet The Wickeds; Sniper; Touching; Liten vals; Crazy She Calls Me.

Personnel

Knut Riisn?s

saxophone

Knut Riisn?s: saxophone; Anders Aarum: piano; Jens Fossum: bass; Tom Olstad: drums.

Album information

Title: 2nd Thoughts | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Losen Records

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