Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Randal Despommier: A Midsummer Odyssey

Randal Despommier: A Midsummer Odyssey

By Jerome Wilson
October 24, 2022
View read count

Lars Gullin

saxophone, baritone
1928 - 1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Lars Gullin was a Swedish baritone saxophonist active mainly in the Fifties and Sixties and known for his work on his native jazz scene as well as playing with American stars such as

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker and

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz. His compositions were an early example of a European musician mixing the sounds of his home country with American jazz, bringing a thoughtful Nordic calm into the cool jazz realm. Alto saxophonist

Randal Despommier

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Randal Despommier is a long-time Gullin fan and, on this album, he interprets nine of his compositions in a duo with guitarist

Ben Monder

guitar
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Monder.

Gullin usually worked in conventional jazz group configurations with a full rhythm section. The pared-down duo on this album bypasses all that to burrow into the heart of Gullin's melodies, bringing out a folkish simplicity which comes out in various ways. It emerges as a lovely hazy melancholy on "Danny's Dream" and "Silhouette." "BBC Blues" has a compact swing reminiscent of the bluesy sassiness of

Jimmy Giuffre

clarinet
1921 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Giuffre's trio music. "Dyningar" is an elegantly moody stroll where Despommier's wistful alto is supported by plush guitar notes while "Toka Voka Oka Boka" has the saxophonist dancing along a sprightly folk theme as Monder plays ominous sliding chords behind him.

Despommier and Monder complement each other very well. Their combination of floating alto and quietly forceful guitar fit together as naturally as

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond and

Jim Hall

guitar
1930 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Hall through the deep brooding of "Mazurka," the chugging Brazilian rhythm of "I Min Smala Sang," and the intimate balladry of "I Hope It's Spring For You." Quieter moods dominate the album but "Igloo" is an exception. It is a lively boppish line in Birth of the Cool fashion which the duo play in close harmony before Despommier spirals out over popping guitar accompaniment.

The chemistry between Despommier and Monder brings out the best in Gullin's intriguing tunes. They interact beautifully and create an intimate but bracing sound full of life but tinged with a note of chilled reserve. This project makes a fine gateway into the music of Lars Gullin.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Toka Voka Oka Boka; Igloo; Danny's Dream; BBC Blues; Mazurka; Dyningar; Silhouette; I Min Smala S?ng; I Hope It's Spring for You.

Personnel

Randal Despommier

saxophone

Ben Monder

guitar

Album information

Title: A Midsummer Odyssey | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Itai Kriss & Telavana At The Jazz Ro...
< Previous

Fertile Garden
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.